One-Year Retention Rates
The one-year retention rate for freshmen entering in 2021 was 88%, equaling the all-time high. The 2nd-fall retention rate has been 87 or 88% for 6 of the last 7 entry cohorts, excluding only the 2019 cohort whose second fall was during the first year of the pandemic.
The resident 2nd-fall retention rate was 88% for the third consecutive year, following 5 years at 89-90%.
Non-residents retained at a rate of 88%, an all-time high for the 2nd consecutive year and a point higher than last year.
BIPOC students dropped 1 point from last year, at 85%. The 2nd-fall retention rate for BIPOC students has been 85 or 86% for 7 consecutive years.
Pell recipients’ 2nd-fall retention rate dropped 2 points, to 81%, and first-generation students dropped 3 points, to 78%. Each rate was the lowest since the 2013 cohort.
Two-Year retention rates
The two-year retention rate for freshmen entering in 2020 was 81%, the same as last year. Four of the last five cohorts have had a 2-year rate of 81%, the exception being the 2018 cohort, whose 3rd fall was the first pandemic year of 2020.
The two-year retention rate for residents was 82%, the same as last year and 3 points below the high set 4 years ago. Non-residents retained at 80%, a point above last year and an all-time high for the second consecutive year.
The two-year retention rate for BIPOC students dropped 1 point, to 78%.
The two-year retention rate of Pell recipients increased 1 point, to 75%, while first-generation students dropped 1 point, to 73%. Neither group have completely rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, which peaked at 78% (Pell) and 76% (first generation).