by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many URI first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at URI. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 84% students making it past their freshmen year, URI has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Rhode Island, the average is 78.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| URI | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Rhode Island | 78.84% |
How many of the estimated 3279 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 59% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 71% of the students had graduated and after eight years 72% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical URI graduation rate 71%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2735 | 59% |
| Six Years | 3279 | 71% |
| Eight Years | 47 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1284 | 28% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1284 students or 28% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1284 students who did not complete their degree?
43 are still enrolled.
815 transferred to another institution.
URI lost contact with the remaining 458 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 43 | 3.3% |
| Transferred | 815 | 63.5% |
| Dropped Out | 458 | 35.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 68% |
| Black / African-American | 57% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 68% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 55% |
| Unknown | 79% |
| White | 74% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at URI are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at University of Rhode Island represent 73.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the URI graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 73% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | URI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 58% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 47.82% |
925 first-time / full-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
642 transferred to another institution.
URI lost contact with the remaining 274 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.97% |
| Transferred | 642 | 69.41% |
| Dropped Out | 274 | 29.62% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Rhode Island represent 0.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the URI graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 37% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | URI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 23.72% |
19 first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
URI lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 73.68% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 26.32% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Rhode Island represent 14.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the URI graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 77% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | URI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 75% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
161 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
92 transferred to another institution.
URI lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.24% |
| Transferred | 92 | 57.14% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 41.61% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Rhode Island represent 11.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the URI graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | URI | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 60% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 65% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 37.80% |
179 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
URI lost contact with the remaining 112 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 67 | 37.43% |
| Dropped Out | 112 | 62.57% |
