Graduation, Transfer-out, and Retention Rate Trends at Northwestern

The average graduation rate over the past 11 years (2013-2023) is 94.10% where the last year rate was 96%. The average retention rate of the last 11 years is 97.70% (all full-time students).

Judging by its graduation rate and retention rate, most students at Northwestern keep enrolled each semester and complete their studies in time.

School Home 2023 Graduation Rate

Graduation Rate Changes

The average graduation rate of the last 11 years is 94.10% where the current academic year rate is 96%.

The following table and chart show the changes of graduation rate at Northwestern University over the past 11 years (2013-2023).

Year	Total	Men	Women
2013-14	94%	93%	95%
2014-15	93%	92%	95%
2015-16	93%	92%	94%
2016-17	94%	92%	95%
2017-18	94%	92%	95%
2018-19	95%	94%	95%
2019-20	93%	93%	94%
2020-21	94%	93%	95%
2021-22	95%	93%	96%
2022-23	96%	95%	97%
Average	94.10%	92.90%	95.10%

Northwestern University Graduation Rate Changes Chart

Retention Rate Changes

The average retention rate of the last 11 years is 97.70% (all full-time students).

The following table shows the changes of retention rate at Northwestern from 2013 to 2023.

Year	Full-time	Part-time
2013-14	98%	-
2014-15	97%	-
2015-16	97%	-
2016-17	98%	-
2017-18	98%	-
2018-19	97%	-
2019-20	98%	-
2020-21	97%	-
2021-22	99%	-
2022-23	98%	-
Average	97.70%	-

Student to Faculty Ratio Changes

The average student to faculty ratio over the last 11 years is 6.40 to 1 where the current academic year ratio is 6 to 1. The following table and chart illustrate the change of student to faculty ratio at Northwestern University since 2023.

Year	Student to Faculty Ratio
2013-14	7:1
2014-15	7:1
2015-16	7:1
2016-17	7:1
2017-18	6:1
2018-19	6:1
2019-20	6:1
2020-21	6:1
2021-22	6:1
2022-23	6:1
Average	6.40:1

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