One method of examining course completion is through student retention, progression, and graduation data. The University of North Alabama closely monitors this data as depicted in the following tables, Retention, Progression, and Graduation Rates. As depicted in Table 4.1a, the most recent retention data (fall 2015 cohort) show that 75.1 percent of UNA freshmen return for their second year, which exceeds the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange’s (CSRDE) most recent continuation rate to the second year of 75 percent. Furthermore, the University of North Alabama’s current retention rate of 75.8 percent for the fall 2016 freshman cohort exceeds the average of our official peer institutions and our aspirational peers by nearly 3 percentage points. The retention rate of 75.8 percent also exceeds the national average of 73.1 percent, the southeast average of 72.4 percent, and the state of Alabama’s average rate of 70.5 percent (these rates represent the average rate of all public 4-year institutions within that grouping). The five-year average retention rate for fall 2012 through the fall 2016 freshman cohorts is 73.96 percent which is comparable to the CSRDE five-year average of 74.38.

The most recent progression data (fall 2014 cohort) show that 64.1 percent returned in year three with 63.9 percent returning in year four (fall 2013 cohort). The University of North Alabama five-year average for third-year progression is 60.26 percent which is comparable to the CSRDE five-year average of 62.94 percent. The five-year average for fourth-year progression is 52 percent. This information is summarized in table 4.1a.

In regards to completion rates, the most recent four-year graduation rate for the fall 2012 cohort is 20.6 percent, with the most recent five-year graduation rate for the 2011 cohort being 38.5 percent. The six-year graduation rate for the fall 2010 cohort is 43.5 percent which is comparable to the University’s official peers at an average of 43.9 percent. The six-year graduation rate average is 36.94 percent (fall 2006 – fall 2010 cohorts). The six-year graduation rate has increased 11.3 percentage points since 2006.

Table 4.1a. UNA Freshman Student Retention and Graduation Rates: Cohorts 2008 - 2015