by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UW - Eau Claire 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 82% students making it past their freshmen year, UW - Eau Claire 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 Wisconsin, the average is 74.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UW - Eau Claire | 82% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Wisconsin | 74.47% |
There were approximately 1974 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 46% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 64% of the students had graduated and after eight years 65% 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 - Eau Claire graduation rate 64%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1402 | 46% |
| Six Years | 1974 | 64% |
| Eight Years | 29 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1074 | 35% |
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 1074 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1074 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
791 transferred to another institution.
UW - Eau Claire lost contact with the remaining 273 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.9% |
| Transferred | 791 | 73.6% |
| Dropped Out | 273 | 25.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 64% |
| Black / African-American | 52% |
| Hispanic | 65% |
| International | 60% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 52% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 68% |
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 - Eau Claire 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 Wisconsin-Eau Claire represent 75.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW - Eau Claire graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 - Eau Claire | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 66% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 47.82% |
775 first-time / full-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
605 transferred to another institution.
UW - Eau Claire lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.29% |
| Transferred | 605 | 78.06% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 20.65% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire represent 0.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW - Eau Claire graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 - Eau Claire | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
12 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
UW - Eau Claire lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 33.33% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire represent 18.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW - Eau Claire graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 - Eau Claire | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
181 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
UW - Eau Claire lost contact with the remaining 65 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 116 | 64.09% |
| Dropped Out | 65 | 35.91% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire represent 5.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UW - Eau Claire graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 - Eau Claire | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
106 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
62 transferred to another institution.
UW - Eau Claire lost contact with the remaining 44 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 62 | 58.49% |
| Dropped Out | 44 | 41.51% |
