by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UW Tacoma 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, UW Tacoma 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 Tacoma | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 1355 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 66% 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 UW Tacoma graduation rate 71%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1259 | 66% |
| Six Years | 1355 | 71% |
| Eight Years | 25 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 527 | 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 527 students or 28% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 527 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
289 transferred to another institution.
UW Tacoma lost contact with the remaining 230 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 289 | 54.8% |
| Dropped Out | 230 | 43.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 51% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 71% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 55% |
| Unknown | 80% |
| White | 65% |
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 UW Tacoma are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus represent 27.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Tacoma graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 Tacoma | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
225 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
UW Tacoma lost contact with the remaining 107 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 113 | 50.22% |
| Dropped Out | 107 | 47.56% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus represent 2.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Tacoma graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 Tacoma | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 31% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 23.72% |
25 first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
UW Tacoma lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 68.00% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 32.00% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus represent 58.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Tacoma graduation rate was 81%, and by the eight year mark, 81% 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 Tacoma | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 81% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 81% | 55.07% |
206 non first-time / part-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
UW Tacoma lost contact with the remaining 88 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.97% |
| Transferred | 116 | 56.31% |
| Dropped Out | 88 | 42.72% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus represent 12.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW Tacoma graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 Tacoma | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 66% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 69% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 37.80% |
71 non 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.
43 transferred to another institution.
UW Tacoma lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.41% |
| Transferred | 43 | 60.56% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 38.03% |
