by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UW Seattle 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 UW Seattle. 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 95% students making it past their freshmen year, UW Seattle 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UW Seattle | 95% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 7338 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 74% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 84% of the students had graduated and after eight years 85% 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 UW Seattle graduation rate 84%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6407 | 74% |
| Six Years | 7338 | 84% |
| Eight Years | 70 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1309 | 15% |
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 1309 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1309 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
715 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 579 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 715 | 54.6% |
| Dropped Out | 579 | 44.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 68% |
| Asian | 88% |
| Black / African-American | 78% |
| Hawaiian | 71% |
| Hispanic | 78% |
| International | 88% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 82% |
| Unknown | 94% |
| White | 82% |
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 UW Seattle are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Washington-Seattle Campus represent 73.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Seattle graduation rate was 84%, and by the eight year mark, 85% 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 | UW Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 71% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 84% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 85% | 47.82% |
959 first-time / full-time students or 15% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
553 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 396 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.04% |
| Transferred | 553 | 57.66% |
| Dropped Out | 396 | 41.29% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus represent 0.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Seattle graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | UW Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 65% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
13 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 13 | 54.17% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 41.67% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus represent 21.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Seattle graduation rate was 87%, and by the eight year mark, 87% 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 | UW Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 87% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 55.07% |
233 non first-time / part-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
108 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 121 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 108 | 46.35% |
| Dropped Out | 121 | 51.93% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Washington-Seattle Campus represent 3.78% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Seattle graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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 | UW Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 66% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 71% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 37.80% |
93 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
UW Seattle lost contact with the remaining 52 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 41 | 44.09% |
| Dropped Out | 52 | 55.91% |
