RETENTION OF
2006-07
FRESHMEN
COHORT
Prepared by
Institutional Research
November 2007
First-year retention rates have increased
from 69% in 1995 to 80% in 2007.
First-Year Retention Rate: History Since 1995
84%
80%
76%
72%
68%
64%
60%
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Retention Rate 69% 72% 75% 75% 75% 76% 77% 74% 76% 81% 79% 80% 80%
UM ranks #24 out of the 31 SUG schools
in first-year retention.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
UNC Chapel Hill
U VA
U GA
UT Austin
GA Tech
Texas A&M
U Maryland
U Delaware
Clemson
FL State
NC State
VA Tech
U Florida
U SC Columbia
Auburn
97%
97%
93%
93%
92%
92%
92%
90%
89%
89%
89%
89%
88%
86%
85%
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
U Alabama
U Oklahoma
LA State
Texas Tech
U AR Fayetteville
MS State
U TN Knoxville
West Virginia
U Mississippi
AZ State
GA State
OK State
U Kentucky
U Houston
U AL Birmingham
U So MS
85%
83%
83%
83%
83%
82%
82%
81%
80%
79%
79%
79%
78%
77%
75%
73%
Five-Year Goal:
Increase Retention to 85% by 2012
 Goal is to increase retention by 1% per year for
next five years
 For the 2007-08 freshman class of 2,473:
• A 1% increase is 25 students
• Increase retention from 80% (1,944) to 81% (2,003)
STUDENT
CHARACTERISTICS
RETENTION OF 2006-07
FRESHMEN COHORT
Overall 80% of new 2006-07 freshmen returned in 2007-08.
Nonresidents have a lower retention rate than residents
(78% vs. 83%).
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
Retention Rate by Residency Status
83%
82%
81%
80%
79%
78%
77%
76%
75%
Returned
Resident
Non-Res
Total
83%
78%
80%
White males make up the greatest number of students who don’t return (210).
White females represent the highest number (877) of retained students.
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort by Gender and Ethnicity
Number of Students Who Left and Returned
1200
1000
Left
Left
800
600
Returned
400
Left
200
Returned
Left
Returned Returned
0
Left
Left
Returned Returned
White
Other
Other
Males Females Males
Black
Females
Black
Males
White
Females
Left
43
31
176
210
13
20
Returned
160
105
877
803
51
36
White females have the highest retention rate (83%).
“Other” males have the lowest retention rate (64%) but there are only 56 of them.
Next lowest is black males with a retention rate of 77%.
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort by Gender and Ethnicity
Percentage of Students Who Left and Returned
100%
Left
Left
Left
Left
Left
Left
80%
60%
Returned
Returned
Returned
40%
Returned
Returned
Returned
20%
0%
Black Black White White Other Other
Female Males Female Males Female Males
21%
23%
17%
21%
20%
36%
Returned 79%
77%
83%
79%
80%
64%
Left
The retention rate does not appear to be related to school.
The percent of non-retained students in each school closely
resembles overall enrollment of freshmen by school.
2006-07 Freshman Cohort
All Freshmen by School
Pharmacy
Engineering
5%
8%
Education
3%
Business
20%
Pharmacy
4%
Engineering
8%
Education
3%
Lib Arts
54%
App Sci
7%
2006-07 Freshmen Cohort
Freshmen Who Left By School
Business
21%
App Sci
8%
Acctncy
3%
Lib Arts
53%
Acctncy
3%
Greek Status appears to be an important factor in retention.
The percentage of Greek students who left (13%) is less than half
than the percent of Independent students who left (28%).
2006-7 Freshman Cohort
Greek vs. Independent Status
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
Greek vs. Independent Status
2500
30%
Returned
25%
2000
1500
20%
Returned
15%
Returned
1000
Left
Left
Left
500
10%
5%
0
Greek
Independent
Total
Returned
1215
817
2032
Left
181
312
493
0%
Left
Greek
Independent
Total
13%
28%
20%
LIBA 102 appears to have a positive effect on retention.
The percent of students who left without taking LIBA 102 (27%)
was nearly twice that of those who did take LIBA 102 (14%).
2006-7 Freshment Cohort
Showing LIBA 102 Status
1400
2006-7 Freshment Cohort Who Left
LIBA 102 Status
Returned
30%
1200
25%
Returned
1000
20%
800
600
15%
Left
Left
400
10%
200
0
5%
Liba 102
No Liba 102
Returned
1218
814
Left
198
295
0%
Left
Liba 102
No Liba 102
All Freshmen
14%
27%
20%
Of the 153 students who took EDLD 101, 35% did not return.
This is significantly higher than the overall non-retention rate
(20%).
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
EDLD 101 Status of Students Who Left
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Left
Edld 101
No Edld 101
All Freshmen
35%
19%
20%
The retention rate for students who took EDLD 105 is 85%,
significantly higher than for those who did not take EDLD 105 (80%)
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
Retention Rate by EDLD 105 Status
85%
84%
83%
82%
81%
80%
79%
78%
77%
Returned
Edld 105
No Edld 105
All Freshmen
85%
80%
80%
Not surprisingly, the retention rate for developmental students is
lower than the overall retention rate.
(Math N=283, English N=198, Reading N=230)
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
Retention Rate by Developmental Status
76%
75%
75%
74%
74%
73%
73%
72%
72%
71%
Returned
Dev Math
Dev Engl
Dev Read
75%
73%
75%
RETENTION BY
ACT, GPA’S
RETENTION OF 200607 FRESHMEN COHORT
More than half (55%) of the students who did not return had
an ACT score less than 21.
However, 44% of students who returned had
an ACT score less than 21.
Thus many lower-scoring students can be retained.
2006-7 Freshman Cohort
ACT Scores of Students Who Did NOT Return
25-28
14%
2006-7 Freshman Cohort
ACT Scores of Students Who Returned
33-36
1%
33-36
29-32
0%
4%
< 16
23%
29-32
11%
< 16
15%
25-28
19%
17-20)
25%
21-24
27%
17-20)
32%
21-24
29%
There is a direct relationship between high school GPA
and retention, with the rates ranging from 50% for
students with < 1.49 to 91% for students with 3.5 or
higher HS GPA.
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
Retention Rate by High School GPA
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Retention
1.0-1.49 1.5-1.99 2.0-2.49 2.5-2.99 3.0-3.49 3.5-4.0
50%
70%
73%
77%
81%
91%
Of the freshmen who left, 18% had a UM GPA of 3.0-4.0;
43% had a UM GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Of the 492 freshmen who returned, 81% had a UM GPA > 2.00.
2006-7 Freshman Cohort
GPA Distribution of Students Who Left
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
GPA Distribution of Students who Returned
<1.00
3%
3.00-4.00
18%
<1.00
29%
1.00-2.00
16%
3.00-4.00
45%
2.00-3.00
25%
1.00-2.00
28%
2.00-3.00
36%
Nearly 60% of students who left were in Good Standing.
Education had the lowest percent of students who left in good
academic standing; Pharmacy had the most.
2006-7 Freshmen Cohort
Students who Left in Good Academic Standing by School
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Left in Good Academic Standing
l
ta y
To a c
m
ar ing
Ph e er
n
gi n
En atio
uc
Ed ess e
sin nc
Bu cie cy
S
p an
Ap unt
co
Ac rts
A
b
Li
Lib Arts
Accountancy
App Sciences
Business
Education
Engineering
Pharmacy
Total
63%
69%
40%
55%
35%
53%
89%
59%
RETENTION
BY PROGRAM
RETENTION OF 200607 FRESHMEN COHORT
Programs with highest number of students
who did not return
Program
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Liberal Arts Undecided
Business Undecided
BA Journalism
BA Biology
BA Psychology
BSES Exercise Science
BBA Marketing
Pre-Pharmacy
BSN Nursing
BAEd Elementary Education
BAccy Accountancy
BA Political Science
BSCJ Criminal Justice
Non-Retained
Students
120
67
19
18
17
17
17
15
14
13
12
11
11
Retention
Rate
79%
79%
80%
85%
79%
73%
69%
80%
81%
78%
84%
83%
67%
Programs with highest number of students
who did not return (continued)
Program
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
BS Forensic Chemistry
BS Biomedical Science
BSME Mechanical Engineering
BA Art
BSCE Civil Engineering
BE Engineering
BA History
BA Theatre Arts
BSEE Electrical Engineering
BS Pharmaceutical Sciences
BSGE Geological Engineeringt
BSCS Computer Science
Non-Retained
Students
10
9
9
8
6
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
Retention
Rate
70%
86%
74%
68%
85%
82%
79%
71%
70%
90%
81%
80%
Programs with lowest retention rate
(includes only programs with at least 5 majors)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Program
BA Southern Studies
BPS Paralegal Studies
BS Geology
BSCJ Criminal Justice
BA Art
BBA Marketing
BS Forensic Chemistry
BSW Social Work
BSEE Electrical Engineering
BA Theatre Arts
# Majors
5
9
5
33
25
54
33
10
20
21
Retention Rate
40%
56%
60%
67%
68%
69%
70%
70%
70%
71%
Programs with lowest retention rate (continued)
(includes only programs with at least 5 majors)
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Program
BSES Exercise Science
BSMS Mechanical Engineering
BAEd English Education
BAEd Elementary Education
BBA Marketing Communications
Liberal Arts Undecided
BA Psychology
BA History
# Majors
64
35
8
58
14
564
80
29
Retention Rate
73%
74%
75%
78%
79%
79%
79%
79%
Programs with highest retention rate
(includes only programs with at least 5 majors)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Program
BA Music
BS Biology
BA International Studies
BA Chemistry
BA Communicative Disorders
BA Biochemistry
BSChE Chemical Engineering
BA Mathematics
BS Pharmaceutical Sciences
BA English
# Majors
13
8
35
17
16
31
22
10
48
25
Retention Rate
100%
100%
97%
94%
94%
94%
91%
90%
90%
88%
Programs with highest retention rate (continued)
(includes only programs with at least 5 majors)
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Program
# Majors
BSFCS Family & Consumer Science
30
BS Biomedical Science
63
BBA Economics
7
BA Biology
123
BSCE Civil Engineering
41
BBA Banking and Finance
13
BAccy Accountancy
76
BA Political Science
66
Retention Rate
87%
86%
86%
85%
85%
85%
84%
83%