by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many USU 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 USU. 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 71% students making it past their freshmen year, USU 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 Utah, the average is 75.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USU | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
There were approximately 3974 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 38% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 54% of the students had graduated and after eight years 59% 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 USU graduation rate 54%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2744 | 38% |
| Six Years | 3974 | 54% |
| Eight Years | 309 | 5% |
| Did Not Complete | 3033 | 41% |
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 3033 students or 41% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3033 students who did not complete their degree?
16 are still enrolled.
1649 transferred to another institution.
USU lost contact with the remaining 1336 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 1649 | 54.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1336 | 44.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 19% |
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 44% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 52% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| White | 60% |
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 USU 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 Utah State University represent 60.46% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USU graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | USU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 47.82% |
1780 first-time / full-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
989 transferred to another institution.
USU lost contact with the remaining 764 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 989 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 764 | 42.92% |
First-time / part-time students at Utah State University represent 6.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USU graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | USU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
352 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
145 transferred to another institution.
USU lost contact with the remaining 194 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 3.69% |
| Transferred | 145 | 41.19% |
| Dropped Out | 194 | 55.11% |
Returning / full-time students at Utah State University represent 22.16% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USU graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | USU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 55.07% |
496 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
287 transferred to another institution.
USU lost contact with the remaining 206 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.60% |
| Transferred | 287 | 57.86% |
| Dropped Out | 206 | 41.53% |
Returning / part-time students at Utah State University represent 10.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USU graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | USU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 47% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
405 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
228 transferred to another institution.
USU lost contact with the remaining 172 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.23% |
| Transferred | 228 | 56.30% |
| Dropped Out | 172 | 42.47% |
