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VCU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

39% 4-Year Graduation Rate
64% 6-Year Graduation Rate
83% Retention Rate

Virginia Commonwealth University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding VCU 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.

VCU Retention Rate

83% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, VCU 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.

VCU Retention  83 out of 100
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100%
Virginia Retention  70 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
VCU83%
Nationwide70.57%
Virginia69.66%

VCU Graduation Rates

64% 6-Year Graduation Rate
22.49% Transfer Rate
10.23% Dropout Rate

Of the 4,405 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

After four years 39% of the cohort graduated. After six years 64% had completed their degree, and 66% 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 VCU graduation rate 64%.

The average length of time it takes an VCU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.40 years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  47%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  64%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  66%
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100%

VCU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years3,25047%
Six Years4,40564%
Eight Years1562%
Did Not Complete2,30034%
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.
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VCU Drop Out Rate

Approximately 2300 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 2300 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled190.8%
Transferred154567.2%
Dropped Out70330.6%

VCU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native50%
Asian73%
Black / African-American67%
Hawaiian100%
Hispanic64%
International65%
Multi-Ethnic51%
Unknown73%
White66%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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 VCU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time VCU Graduation Rates

56% First-Time, Full-Time
62% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.73% of VCU bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 39%, first-time students in the VCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the VCU graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  39 out of 100
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  62 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  65 out of 100
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VCU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsVCUNationwide
Four Years39%37.92%
Six Years62%46.43%
Eight Years65%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time VCU Drop Out Rates

1330 first-time / full-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled191.43%
Transferred88166.24%
Dropped Out41831.43%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

0% First-Time, Part-Time
30% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University represent 0.48% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time, part-time students in the VCU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  30 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  33 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time VCU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsVCUNationwide
Four Years9%14.37%
Six Years30%21.59%
Eight Years33%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time VCU Drop Out Rates

22 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled14.55%
Transferred1254.55%
Dropped Out940.91%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

34% Returning, Full-Time
68% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

2358 VCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.33% 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 68%, 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 69%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  68 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  69 out of 100
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100%

VCU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsVCUNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years68%53.83%
Eight Years69%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time VCU Drop Out Rates

730 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled141.92%
Transferred51971.10%
Dropped Out19726.99%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

10% Returning, Part-Time
65% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

658 VCU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.58% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 65%, 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 67%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  65 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  67 out of 100
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100%

VCU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsVCUNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years65%36.03%
Eight Years67%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time VCU Drop Out Rates

218 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled62.75%
Transferred13361.01%
Dropped Out7936.24%

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