Grawmeyer Hall in fall

Student Achievement Metrics

Student success matters at UofL. The university sets clear goals and tracks progress using key metrics from its strategic plan.

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Key student achievement indicators

Six-year undergraduate graduation rates

The percentage of full-time, first-time students who started a bachelors degree who graduate within six years

First to second year retention rates

The percentage of full-time, first-year students who who started a bachelors degree that return to UofL for their second year

Degrees and certificates awarded

The total number of degrees and certificates awarded each academic year

Professional licensure exam passage rates

UofL students performance on professional licensure exams in audiology, dentistry, education, law, medicine, nursing, and speech-language pathology

Six-year undergraduate graduation rates

Key student completion indicator: UofL tracks the percentage of full-time, first-time bachelors degree-seeking students who graduate within six years (150% of normal time).
Group Entering fall 2014 Entering fall 2015 Entering fall 2016 Entering fall 2017 Entering fall 2018 Target goal*
Cohort total 60.4% 61.6% 62.2% 60.6% 61.1% 65.0%
First-generation** 50.1% 51.2% 52.7% 51.9% 48.6% 60.0%
Underfunded*** 50.3% 50.6% 52.6% 48.8% 52.2% 59.0%
Underprepared**** 44.3% 45.0% 45.6% 41.3% 44.8% --

*Target goals are derived from the UofL 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.

**First-generation college students' legal guardians did not earn a four-year college degree.

***Underfunded students are Pell Grant eligible.

****Underprepared students are not college-ready in one or more of the following subjects: writing, reading, or mathematics.
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First to second year retention rates

UofL monitors the percentage of full-time, first-time bachelors degree-seeking students who return for their second year.
Group Fall 2019 Cohort Fall 2020 Cohort Fall 2021 Cohort Fall 2022 Cohort Fall 2023 Cohort Target goal*
Cohort total 80.9% 76.6% 78.2% 80.5% 81.5% 83.0%
First-generation** 74.3% 65.7% 71.6% 74.4% 75.4% --
Underfunded*** 78.0% 71.6% 72.2% 78.6% 77.9% --
Underprepared**** 73.2% 65.2% 70.6% 69.9% 72.6% --

*Target goals are derived from the UofL 2022-2025 Strategic Plan and the Higher Education Matters: A Campus Action Plan for University of Louisville for 2022-2024.

**First-generation college students' legal guardians did not earn a four-year college degree.

***Underfunded students are Pell Grant eligible.

****Underprepared students are not college-ready in one or more of the following subjects: writing, reading, or mathematics.
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Degrees and certificates awarded

UofL evaluates the number of degrees and certificates awarded each academic year - including first, second and third majors.
Group AY 2019-2020 AY 2020-2021 AY 2021-2022 AY 2022-2023 AY 2023-2024 Target goal*
Undergraduate total 3,273 3,188 3,179 3,177 3,035 3,549
Undergraduate first-generation** 707 664 730 840 930 --
Undergraduate STEM*** 1,124 1,152 1,146 1,118 1,057 --
Graduate / professional total 2,119 2,331 2,635 2,748 2,678 2,490
Graduate / professional first-generation** -- -- 171 187 224 --
Graduate / professional STEM*** 911 1,022 1,144 1,110 1,205 --

*Target goals are derived from the UofL 2022-2025 Strategic Plan and the Higher Education Matters: A Campus Action Plan for University of Louisville for 2022-2024.

**First-generation college students' legal guardians did not earn a four-year college degree.

***Degrees and certificates are defined as Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) credentials according to the CPE definition.
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Professional licensure examinations

UofL collects student pass rate data for discipline-based licensure exams in fields like audiology, dentistry, education, law, medicine, nursing, and speech-language pathology. Academic units are responsible for gathering and using this data to meet program-level accreditation standards and support strategic planning.

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Juris Doctor (J.D.) licensure exam pass rate

The Brandeis School of Law monitors the percentage of law graduates who pass the bar exam within two years of graduation to meet accreditation standards and support student achievement.
Institution / comparison group 2017 graduates 2018 graduates 2019 graduates 2020 graduates 2021 graduates 2022 graduates
UofL 94% 90% 90% 96% 90% 87%
National pass rate 89% 90% 92% 92% 90% 91%

Exam: State bar exam

Measure: Ultimate pass rate after two years (highest score earned across all attempts)

Goal: Above the national average
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Initial and advanced teacher preparation programs licensure exam pass rates

The College of Education and Human Development monitors the percentage of graduates who pass required licensure exams to become certified teachers or administrators in P–12 settings. This rate includes all exam attempts within two years of graduation and supports accreditation and program improvement.
Exam* Institution / Comparison group AY 2018-2019 AY 2019-2020 AY 2020-2021 AY 2021-2022 AY 2022-2023 AY 2023-2024
Praxis traditional certification UofL 99% 92% 97% 97% 92% 96%
Praxis traditional certification Kentucky pass rate 96% 95% 98% 98% 95% 93%
Praxis alternative certification UofL 100% 100% 96% 98% 91% 71%
Praxis alternative certification Kentucky pass rate 98% 98% 99% 98% 94% 90%
School leadership licensure assessment UofL 91% 100% 93% 100% 95% 100%
School leadership licensure assessment Kentucky pass rate 94% 100% 97% 98% 99% 99%

Measure: Ultimate pass rate (highest score earned across all attempts)

Goal: Above state average

*Scores are based upon reporting from Education Testing Services (ETS) using a one-year cycle that starts September 1 and ends August 31.
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Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) licensure exam pass rates

The School of Dentistry monitors the percentage of graduates who pass required licensure exams on their first attempt to meet accreditation standards and support student readiness for professional practice.
Institution 2019 graduates 2020 graduates 2021 graduates 2022 graduates 2023 graduates 2024 graduates 2025 graduates
UofL 92.0% 95.0% 96.0% 98.0% 99.5% 100% 93.7%

Exam: National Board of Dental Examination (NBDE) Part II* / Integrated National Board of Dental Examination (INBDE)

Measure: First-time exam taker pass rate

Goal: 90% Pass rate**

*NBDE Part II is no longer offered after December 31, 2022; Part I and Part II are combined in the INBDE.

**This is above the national average, and it is established in the UofL School of Dentistry strategic plan. 
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Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) licensure exam pass rates

The School of Medicine monitors the percentage of graduates who pass the required licensure exam to become practicing audiologists. This rate includes all exam attempts and supports accreditation and program evaluation.
Institution / Comparison group 2020 graduates 2021 graduates 2022 graduates 2023 graduates 2024 graduates 2025 graduates
UofL 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
National average 89% 85% 89% 87% 88% --

Exam: Audiology Praxis Exam

Measure: Ultimate pass rate (highest score earned across all attempts) by graduation calendar year of student

Goal: Above the national average

 
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Speech-Language Pathology licensure exam pass rates

The School of Medicine monitors the percentage of graduates who pass the required licensure exam to become practicing speech-language pathologists. This rate includes all exam attempts and supports accreditation and program evaluation.
Institution 2020 graduates 2021 graduates 2022 graduates 2023 graduates 2024 graduates 2025 graduates
UofL 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Exam: Speech-Language Pathology Praxis Exam

Measure: Ultimate pass rate (highest score earned across all attempts)

Goal: 80% pass rate
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Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) licensure exam pass rates

The School of Medicine monitors the percentage of graduates who pass the required licensure exams to become practicing medical doctors on their first attempt. This measure supports accreditation and reflects readiness for clinical practice.
Exam Institution / Comparison group CY 2020 CY 2021 CY 2022 CY 2023 CY 2024
USMLE - Step 1 UofL 100% 94% 86% 86% 85%
USMLE - Step 1 National average 97% 96% 93% 92% 91%
USMLE - Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge) UofL 97% 99% 99% 95% 95%
USMLE - Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge) National average 99% 99% 98% 98% 98%

Exam: United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2

Measure: First-time exam taker pass rate

Goal: Above the national average
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Registered Nurse (R.N.) licensure exam pass rates

The School of Nursing monitors the percentage of graduates who pass the licensure exam to become registered nurses on their first attempt. This measure supports accreditation and reflects readiness for professional practice.
Institutional program / Comparison groups CY 2019 CY 2020 CY 2021 CY 2022 CY 2023 CY 2024
UofL B.S.N. at Health Sciences Center (HSC) 92% 89% 84% 88% 92% 85%
UofL B.S.N. at Owensboro, Kentucky 92% 97% 91% 92% 93% 95%
Commonwealth of Kentucky average 95% 92% 87% 85% 93% 94%
National average 91% 90% 86% 82% 90% 92%

Exam: National Council Licensure Examination - Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)

Measure: First-time exam taker pass rate

Goal: 90% pass rate
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Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (A.P.R.N.) licensure exam pass rates

The School of Nursing monitors the percentage of graduates who pass the licensure exam in their advanced practice specialization on their first attempt. This measure supports accreditation and reflects readiness for advanced clinical practice.
Credentialing agency Institution / Comparison group: Specialization CY 2019 CY 2020 CY 2021 CY 2022 CY 2023 CY 2024
American Nurses Credentialing Center UofL: Adult - Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 75%* 100% 100% 91% 100% 100%
American Nurses Credentialing Center National average: Adult - Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner N/A N/A N/A 97% 83% 83%
American Association of Nurse Practitioners UofL: Adult - Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 100% 100% N/A** 100% 100% N/A**
American Association of Nurse Practitioners National average: Adult - Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 84% 86% 84% 83% 90% 87%
American Association of Nurse Practitioners UofL: Family Nurse Practitioner 87% 94% 100% 81% 87% 100%
American Association of Nurse Practitioners National average: Family Nurse Practitioner 86% 85% 84% 74% 73% 83%
National Certification Corporation UofL: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner 100% N/A*** 100% 100% 100% N/A**
National Certification Corporation National average: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner 92% 93% 92% 83% 81% 89%
American Nurses Credentialing Center UofL: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 100% 67%**** 100% 90% 100% 100%
American Nurses Credentialing Center National average: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 86% 86% 87% 91% 90% 83%

Exam: See credentialing agency column in table

Measure: First-time exam taker pass rate

Goal: Above the national average

*Three out of four students passed the exam on the first attempt. Due to the low number of test-takers, conclusions are difficult.

**Insufficient number of test-takers to deidentify the results.

***UofL did not have any graduating students from this specialization during CY 2020.

****Four out of six students passed the exam on the first attempt. The remaining two students ultimately passed the exam in 2020.
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