by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many USF Tampa 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 USF Tampa. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 91% students making it past their freshmen year, USF Tampa 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 Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USF Tampa | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
There were approximately 8506 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 64% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 73% of the students had graduated and after eight years 75% 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 USF Tampa graduation rate 73%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7408 | 64% |
| Six Years | 8506 | 73% |
| Eight Years | 160 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2958 | 25% |
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 2958 students or 25% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2958 students who did not complete their degree?
129 are still enrolled.
1364 transferred to another institution.
USF Tampa lost contact with the remaining 1538 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 129 | 4.4% |
| Transferred | 1364 | 46.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1538 | 52.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 84% |
| Black / African-American | 75% |
| Hawaiian | 25% |
| Hispanic | 73% |
| International | 81% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 74% |
| Unknown | 76% |
| White | 73% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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.
A meaningful share of students at USF Tampa are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of South Florida represent 43.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USF Tampa graduation rate was 75%, and by the eight year mark, 76% 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 | USF Tampa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 75% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 47.82% |
1191 first-time / full-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
700 transferred to another institution.
USF Tampa lost contact with the remaining 469 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 700 | 58.77% |
| Dropped Out | 469 | 39.38% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Florida represent 0.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USF Tampa graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | USF Tampa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 23.72% |
53 first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
USF Tampa lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 24 | 45.28% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 52.83% |
Returning / full-time students at University of South Florida represent 36.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USF Tampa graduation rate was 78%, and by the eight year mark, 79% 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 | USF Tampa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 78% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 79% | 55.07% |
892 non first-time / part-time students or 21% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
405 transferred to another institution.
USF Tampa lost contact with the remaining 477 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.12% |
| Transferred | 405 | 45.40% |
| Dropped Out | 477 | 53.48% |
Returning / part-time students at University of South Florida represent 18.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USF Tampa graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | USF Tampa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 61% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 37.80% |
822 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
235 transferred to another institution.
USF Tampa lost contact with the remaining 564 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.80% |
| Transferred | 235 | 28.59% |
| Dropped Out | 564 | 68.61% |
