UMD Recognized Among Top 10 for Graduation Rates at U.S. Public Universities

The University of Maryland ranks No. 10 among all four-year U.S. public universities for its graduation rates, reflecting the university’s strong commitment to student success and academic excellence, according to a new report by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

UMD also ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten Conference for the percentage of students completing their bachelor’s degrees within four (75.7%) and six years (88.5%). 

The report includes data from more than 2,300 colleges as of Aug. 31, 2023, and counts students seeking bachelor’s degrees who first enrolled in 2017. The data is from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

UMD’s success builds on a robust slate of strategic investments in student retention and graduation initiatives, said Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice.

“Every Terp’s journey is supported by a university-wide ecosystem of personalized advising, excellent teaching and holistic well-being,” she said. “Our top ranking is the result of intentional work to strengthen academic pathways, use data and technology to guide student progress, and create an environment where students are supported both inside and outside the classroom, and are able to reach their full potential.”

Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs, stressed that UMD’s divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs partner with one another and with students from enrollment through graduation to establish a comprehensive network of support and resources that empower students to learn, thrive and persist.

Among the policies and programs that support student success at UMD:

• The Student Academic Success–Degree Completion Policy, which requires that students are guided and monitored from enrollment through graduation with individualized graduation plans, strong academic advising and degree-audit tools.
• The Transitional Advising Program and Interim Advising Program, which provide specialized advising and major-exploration resources so students can find the best academic track for them and stay on it.
• The Teaching and Learning Transformation Center’s popular Guided Study Sessions, Math Success coaching, academic coaching, and learning-strategy workshops, which build skills, resilience, and course-level success.
• The Math Success Initiative, which improves math placement, instruction, tutoring and test-retaking resources, and uses dashboards and AI tools to align courses and monitor outcomes.
• The Academic Achievement Programs, the C.D. Mote, Jr. Incentive Awards Program, and the Maryland Promise Program, among others, which provide scholarships, cohort-based wraparound services, and proven supports that raise retention and graduation rates for students who have not traditionally had access to higher education.
• Pre-Transfer Advising for students who are considering transferring to UMD, and degree programs at the Universities at Shady Grove and USM–Southern Maryland, which create affordable, locally accessible pathways that shorten the time to degree for transfer and regional students.
• The Counseling Center, University Health Center, Career Center and Office of the Dean of Students provide important wellness resources and supports, while the Thrive Center for Essential Needs provides extra services, addressing food and housing insecurity, for example.
• Outside-the-classroom opportunities including alternative breaks, fraternity and sorority life, student organizations and intramural teams enrich and expand students’ learning and strengthen their skills.
• Living-learning communities and other special programs emphasize experiential learning and encourage students to explore their passions, make connections with others, and develop interests beyond their majors, which helps keep them engaged with the university and continue toward their degrees.

All of this, Perillo said, enables students to fully engage in their education and confidently pursue their graduation and career goals. “This recognition is a testament to our students’ capacities, and we are grateful to walk alongside them on their educational path.”