The University of Tulsa has announced a second year of record-breaking retention rates, including posting a 99% retention rate for first-year students who began attending UTulsa in fall 2024. Attracting undergraduates and keeping them engaged from one semester to the next is a sign of a thriving university, and UTulsa has posted a 99% retention rate two years in a row.
“Historically high retention rates exemplify our successful student support programs,” said President Brad Carson. “The team who address these issues does heroic work, and we will continue striving to improve retention and graduation rates until we match the most elite schools in the nation.”
Carson has overseen improving statistics in student persistence and degree completion since being appointed president in 2021. In recent years, UTulsa has made extensive investments in student support to offer a best-in-class experience. From prioritizing physical and emotional well-being to sponsoring dozens of clubs and organizations, The University of Tulsa provides a sense of belonging while allowing undergraduates to stand out from the crowd.
Thanks to a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, an average class size of 13, and a one-of-a-kind job placement guarantee, the campus also is home to the most National Merit scholars per capita than any university in the country. Free textbooks, free mentors, and free entry to Division I athletic events help to create a welcoming environment.
In addition to the increased success among UTulsa’s newest students, the ongoing retention rate for undergraduates who first enrolled in fall 2023 is 88% – up 7 percentage points from last year and the highest since 2012.
Drilling down into university data, there’s more good news, including record retention rates for first-year students who are PELL grant recipients (99%) as well as those who are first-generation college students (97%).
Four-year graduation rates for students who entered UTulsa in fall 2020 are at an all-time high, up 6 percentage points from last year. Among PELL recipients, the graduation rate jumped 19 percentage points over last year (61%), while it rose 8 percentage points for first-gen students (53%).
For first-year students who are from traditionally underrepresented groups, the retention rate from fall 2024 to spring 2025 is 98% and the highest since 2013. The four-year graduation rate for these students (60%) also is at an all-time high and improved 10 percentage points from the previous year.
Check out all of the opportunities UTulsa has to offer at utulsa.edu/student-life.