by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding University of the District of Columbia retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, University of the District of Columbia has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in District of Columbia, the average is 78.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| University of the District of Columbia | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| District of Columbia | 78.47% |
How many of the estimated 351 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 19% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 27% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% 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 University of the District of Columbia graduation rate 27%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 249 | 19% |
| Six Years | 351 | 27% |
| Eight Years | 35 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 905 | 70% |
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 905 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 905 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
261 transferred to another institution.
University of the District of Columbia lost contact with the remaining 624 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 261 | 28.8% |
| Dropped Out | 624 | 69.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 25% |
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 14% |
| Unknown | 17% |
| White | 67% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at University of the District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia represent 27.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of the District of Columbia graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | University of the District of Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
234 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
62 transferred to another institution.
University of the District of Columbia lost contact with the remaining 169 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.28% |
| Transferred | 62 | 26.50% |
| Dropped Out | 169 | 72.22% |
First-time / part-time students at University of the District of Columbia represent 34.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of the District of Columbia graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | University of the District of Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
355 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
77 transferred to another institution.
University of the District of Columbia lost contact with the remaining 273 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.41% |
| Transferred | 77 | 21.69% |
| Dropped Out | 273 | 76.90% |
Returning / full-time students at University of the District of Columbia represent 20.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of the District of Columbia graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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 | University of the District of Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 45% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 55.07% |
138 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
University of the District of Columbia lost contact with the remaining 81 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 3.62% |
| Transferred | 52 | 37.68% |
| Dropped Out | 81 | 58.70% |
Returning / part-time students at University of the District of Columbia represent 18.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the University of the District of Columbia graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | University of the District of Columbia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 24% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
178 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
University of the District of Columbia lost contact with the remaining 101 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.93% |
| Transferred | 70 | 39.33% |
| Dropped Out | 101 | 56.74% |
