What is the Average Retention Rate in Alabama?
The retention rate is the percentage of first-time students who attend and continue their study in next year at colleges. The low retention rate means that more students transfer out to or stop/pause the program at a school. In general, high ranked colleges or special purpose colleges' retention rate is higher than others.
The average retention rate of Alabama colleges is 67.26% for full-time students and 44.62% for part-time students. 34,186 out of 44,762 full-time first-year students continued their study in next year at Alabama colleges. In public Alabama colleges, the retention rate is 67% and private schools' rate is 68% By school levels, the retention rate at four-years colleges is 71% and community colleges' rate is 61% in Alabama.
The next schools are the top 5 Alabama colleges that have the highest retention rate. Auburn University has the highest retention rate of 95% among Alabama colleges. Samford University and The University of Alabama also have higher rate of 93% and 89% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude community colleges and four-colleges with less than 1,000 first-time students.
- Auburn University Retention Rate: 95% (full-time), 71% (part-time)
- Samford University Retention Rate: 93%
- The University of Alabama Retention Rate: 89% (full-time), 50% (part-time)
- University of Alabama in Huntsville Retention Rate: 84% (full-time), 43% (part-time)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Retention Rate: 80% (full-time), 47% (part-time)
The following table summarizes the average retention rate in Alabama by school type and level.
| Total | Public | Private (not-for-profit) | Private (for-profit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 67.26% | 66.59% | 68.27% | 67.88% |
| 4 Years Colleges | 70.68% | 75.85% | 66.15% | 66.50% |
| Community Colleges | 60.80% | 60.87% | 64.00% | 56.00% |
| Trade Schools | 71.67% | 78.00% | 100.00% | 69.00% |
The following table summarizes the retention rate and number of students by attending status for Alabama collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of students in the corresponding category.
| Retention Rate | First-time Students | Enrolled in Next Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 67.26% | 44,762 | 34,186 |
| Part-time | 44.62% | 4,991 | 2,093 |
The following table shows the Alabama Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
| School Name | Location | Tuition & Fees | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University Public, four-years | Normal, AL | $18,634 ($10,024) | 7,295 | 57.95% | 24% |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Public, four-years | Birmingham, AL | $22,562 ($9,098) | 20,905 | 88.18% | 64% |
| Amridge University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Montgomery, AL | $10,470 | 639 | - | 100% |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville Public, four-years | Huntsville, AL | $26,408 ($12,132) | 8,564 | 68.57% | 64% |
| Alabama State University Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL | $19,576 ($11,248) | 4,081 | 97.55% | 30% |
| The University of Alabama Public, four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL | $34,172 ($12,180) | 40,846 | 76.65% | 73% |
| Central Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Alexander City, AL | $8,980 ($5,110) | 2,140 | - | 33% |
| Athens State University Public, four-years | Athens, AL | $17,700 ($10,020) | 2,986 | - | - |
| Auburn University at Montgomery Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL | $20,668 ($9,700) | 5,217 | 91.57% | 33% |
| Auburn University Public, four-years | Auburn, AL | $34,922 ($12,890) | 34,145 | 45.92% | 82% |
| Chattahoochee Valley Community College Public, 2-4 years | Phenix City, AL | $8,970 ($5,100) | 1,705 | - | 36% |
| South University-Montgomery Private (for-profit), four-years | Montgomery, AL | $17,895 | 303 | - | 9% |
| Enterprise State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Enterprise, AL | $8,970 ($5,100) | 2,699 | - | 42% |
| Coastal Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Bay Minette, AL | $8,910 ($5,040) | 7,553 | - | 31% |
| Faulkner University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Montgomery, AL | $23,920 | 3,086 | 73.07% | 37% |
| Gadsden State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Gadsden, AL | $7,368 ($4,272) | 5,071 | - | 38% |
| New Beginning College of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Albertville, AL | $15,150 | 81 | - | 31% |
| George C Wallace Community College-Dothan Public, 2-4 years | Dothan, AL | $8,850 ($4,980) | 4,044 | - | 35% |
| George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Public, 2-4 years | Hanceville, AL | $9,090 ($5,220) | 6,424 | - | 51% |
| George C Wallace State Community College-Selma Public, 2-4 years | Selma, AL | $8,610 ($4,740) | 1,925 | - | 41% |
| Herzing University-Birmingham Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Birmingham, AL | $13,450 | 444 | 93.26% | 13% |
| Huntingdon College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Montgomery, AL | $29,070 | 892 | 69.49% | 48% |
| Heritage Christian University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Florence, AL | $11,982 | 178 | 90.00% | 67% |
| J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Huntsville, AL | $9,060 ($5,190) | 1,187 | - | 14% |
| J F Ingram State Technical College Public, less than 2-years | Deatsville, AL | $6,084 ($6,084) | 960 | - | 21% |
| Jacksonville State University Public, four-years | Jacksonville, AL | $23,334 ($12,894) | 9,955 | 77.69% | 55% |
| Jefferson State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Birmingham, AL | $8,970 ($5,100) | 9,240 | - | 26% |
| John C Calhoun State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Tanner, AL | $8,990 ($5,120) | 9,119 | - | 41% |
| Lawson State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Birmingham, AL | $8,910 ($5,040) | 3,453 | - | 27% |
| University of West Alabama Public, four-years | Livingston, AL | $20,090 ($10,990) | 6,820 | 42.65% | 35% |
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College Public, 2-4 years | Andalusia, AL | $9,060 ($5,190) | 2,062 | - | 41% |
| Marion Military Institute Public, 2-4 years | Marion, AL | $15,538 ($9,538) | 332 | 97.03% | 36% |
| Miles College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Fairfield, AL | $13,314 | 1,180 | - | 16% |
| University of Mobile Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Mobile, AL | $26,910 | 1,545 | 77.89% | 57% |
| University of Montevallo Public, four-years | Montevallo, AL | $26,968 ($13,948) | 3,088 | 53.85% | 54% |
| Northwest Shoals Community College Public, 2-4 years | Muscle Shoals, AL | $9,001 ($5,131) | 4,665 | - | 39% |
| University of North Alabama Public, four-years | Florence, AL | $22,320 ($12,120) | 10,204 | 87.31% | 55% |
| Northeast Alabama Community College Public, 2-4 years | Rainsville, AL | $8,910 ($5,040) | 3,208 | - | 56% |
| Oakwood University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Huntsville, AL | $22,512 | 1,226 | 45.22% | 45% |
| Reid State Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Evergreen, AL | $9,324 ($5,454) | 641 | - | 59% |
| Bishop State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Mobile, AL | $9,210 ($5,340) | 4,001 | - | 36% |
| Samford University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Birmingham, AL | $40,150 | 6,097 | 82.36% | 77% |
| Selma University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Selma, AL | $4,800 | 95 | - | 6% |
| Shelton State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Tuscaloosa, AL | $8,997 ($5,127) | 4,601 | - | 30% |
| Snead State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Boaz, AL | $9,148 ($5,278) | 2,917 | - | 49% |
| University of South Alabama Public, four-years | Mobile, AL | $19,092 ($10,116) | 14,003 | 70.96% | 53% |
| Spring Hill College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Mobile, AL | $24,054 | 919 | 76.57% | 52% |
| Stillman College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Tuscaloosa, AL | $12,126 | 731 | 62.25% | 25% |
| Talladega College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Talladega, AL | $15,650 | 760 | 85.42% | 31% |
| H Councill Trenholm State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Montgomery, AL | $9,060 ($5,190) | 2,046 | - | 16% |
| Troy University Public, four-years | Troy, AL | $20,352 ($10,176) | 13,658 | 96.04% | 50% |
| Tuskegee University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Tuskegee, AL | $25,386 | 3,121 | 48.68% | 55% |
| United States Sports Academy Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Daphne, AL | $20,700 | 367 | 61.37% | - |
| Bevill State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Jasper, AL | $8,346 ($4,734) | 4,378 | - | 38% |
| Southern Union State Community College Public, 2-4 years | Wadley, AL | $8,874 ($5,030) | 5,063 | - | 36% |
| Remington College-Mobile Campus Private (not-for-profit), 2-4 years | Mobile, AL | $16,511 | 257 | - | 42% |
| Fortis College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Mobile, AL | $16,669 | 315 | - | 49% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Huntsville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Madison, AL | $18,766 | 64 | - | 46% |
| Blue Cliff Career College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Mobile, AL | $14,800 | 107 | - | 80% |
| Huntsville Bible College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Huntsville, AL | $4,730 | 98 | - | - |
| Strayer University-Alabama Private (for-profit), four-years | Birmingham, AL | $13,920 | 1,329 | - | - |
| Columbia Southern University Private (for-profit), four-years | Orange Beach, AL | $6,224 | 17,763 | - | 33% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Hoover, AL | $18,841 | 129 | - | 56% |
| Fortis College-Dothan Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Dothan, AL | $16,669 | 177 | - | 61% |
| Fortis College-Montgomery Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Montgomery, AL | $16,669 | 359 | - | 46% |
| Fortis Institute-Birmingham Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Birmingham, AL | $15,335 | 613 | - | 34% |
| Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Mobile, AL | $19,275 | 56 | - | - |
| University Academy of Hair Design Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Tuscaloosa, AL | $12,000 | 38 | - | 81% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Huntsville, AL | $19,730 | 53 | - | 57% |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Huntsville, AL | $16,297 | 132 | - | 51% |
| Midfield Institute of Cosmetology Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Midfield, AL | $14,400 | 9 | - | 100% |
| Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Jackson, AL | $18,458 | 97 | - | 62% |
| Brown Beauty Barber School Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Bessemer, AL | $16,000 | 54 | - | 83% |
| Winonah's International School of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Hoover, AL | $13,250 | 120 | - | 61% |
| Troy University-Phenix City Campus Public, four-years | Phenix City, AL | $20,352 ($10,176) | - | - | - |
| Troy University-Montgomery Campus Public, four-years | Montgomery, AL | $20,352 ($10,176) | - | - | - |
| Troy University-Dothan Campus Public, four-years | Dothan, AL | $20,352 ($10,176) | - | - | - |
| Troy University-Online Public, four-years | Troy, AL | $10,176 ($9,792) | - | - | - |
| Columbia College - Redstone Arsenal Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Redstone Arsenal, AL | $8,256 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Huntsville Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Huntsville, AL | $13,920 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University - Montgomery Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Montgomery, AL | $13,920 | - | - | - |
| Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology - Saraland Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Saraland, AL | $18,458 | - | - | - |
Related Alabama Statistics
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between Alabama Best Schools
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between All Alabama Schools
- Core Statistics for College Graduation Rate Stats at Alabama
- Average Alabama Graduation Rate Statistics
- Colleges with Highest Graduation Rate in Alabama
- Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rate in Alabama
- Lowest Students to Faculty Ratio in Alabama
- Highest Students to Faculty Ratio in Alabama