by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UVU 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 UVU. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, UVU 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 | |
|---|---|
| UVU | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
There were approximately 3417 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 45% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 UVU graduation rate 45%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2632 | 34% |
| Six Years | 3417 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 206 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4049 | 53% |
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 4049 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4049 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
2053 transferred to another institution.
UVU lost contact with the remaining 1896 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 2053 | 50.7% |
| Dropped Out | 1896 | 46.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 7% |
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 12% |
| Hawaiian | 8% |
| Hispanic | 29% |
| International | 40% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 29% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 44% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 UVU are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Valley University represent 43.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UVU graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | UVU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
1585 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
42 are still enrolled.
842 transferred to another institution.
UVU lost contact with the remaining 701 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 42 | 2.65% |
| Transferred | 842 | 53.12% |
| Dropped Out | 701 | 44.23% |
First-time / part-time students at Utah Valley University represent 17.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UVU graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | UVU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
948 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
412 transferred to another institution.
UVU lost contact with the remaining 506 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.16% |
| Transferred | 412 | 43.46% |
| Dropped Out | 506 | 53.38% |
Returning / full-time students at Utah Valley University represent 24.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UVU graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | UVU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
804 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
418 transferred to another institution.
UVU lost contact with the remaining 372 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.74% |
| Transferred | 418 | 51.99% |
| Dropped Out | 372 | 46.27% |
Returning / part-time students at Utah Valley University represent 14.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UVU graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | UVU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
712 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
381 transferred to another institution.
UVU lost contact with the remaining 317 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 381 | 53.51% |
| Dropped Out | 317 | 44.52% |
