by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding UWM 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 75% students making it past their freshmen year, UWM 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 | |
|---|---|
| UWM | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Wisconsin | 74.47% |
How many of the estimated 2,930 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 14% of the cohort graduated. After six years 45% had completed their degree, and 49% after eight years.
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 UWM graduation rate 45%.
The average UWM student takes 4.74 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,570 | 24% |
| Six Years | 2,930 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 224 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,341 | 51% |
Approximately 3341 students or 51% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3341 students who did not complete their degree?
55 are still enrolled.
1913 transferred to another institution.
UWM lost contact with the remaining 1337 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 55 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 1913 | 57.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1,337 | 40.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 35% |
| Asian | 40% |
| Black / African-American | 24% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 40% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 39% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 50% |
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 UWM are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee represent 59% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.92% of UWM bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time students in the UWM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the UWM graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 45% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | UWM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
2093 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
55 are still enrolled.
1277 transferred to another institution.
UWM lost contact with the remaining 746 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 55 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 1277 | 61.01% |
| Dropped Out | 746 | 35.64% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee represent 1.80% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the UWM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | UWM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
90 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
UWM lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.22% |
| Transferred | 39 | 43.33% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 54.44% |
1975 UWM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.41% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 56%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 58%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | UWM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
831 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
463 transferred to another institution.
UWM lost contact with the remaining 359 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.08% |
| Transferred | 463 | 55.72% |
| Dropped Out | 359 | 43.20% |
567 UWM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 40%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 42%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | UWM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
327 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
134 transferred to another institution.
UWM lost contact with the remaining 183 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 134 | 40.98% |
| Dropped Out | 183 | 55.96% |
