The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A higher number of freshman at the University of Kentucky returned for their sophomore year in 2001, though only a little more than half of the students are graduating after six years, a study by the university found.

The ongoing study, titled "Retention and Graduation Rates Entering Classes 1986-2001," by the university's Office of Institutional Research, also found that just 25 percent finish in four years.

UK's Associate Provost Phillip Kraemer said he was pleased by the retention rate, which measures the number of freshmen who return for their sophomore year.

The number slipped from 80 percent in 1999 to 77.7 percent in 2000, but climbed to 79.3 percent in 2001.

State mandates have required that the university raise that number to 90 percent by 2020, as part of higher education reform.

"We do an awful lot for first-year students," Kraemer said. "We're providing more tools, more opportunities, more resources. There is a real sense that the will of the institution is being reflected in our success."

UK offers a class, known as UK 101, to help freshmen adjust to college life. It helps acquaint those students with the campus, teaches them study skills, introduces careers, and explores issues such as alcohol and drug abuse.

Graduation rates at UK have steadily improved, going from 48.8 percent in 1986 to 57.7 percent in 1996, a high for the university. A six-year graduation rate is now the national standard because so many students take time off from their studies or go to school part-time.

UK ranks near the bottom of its 19 benchmark universities, the similarly sized and top academic schools that UK compares itself with as it tries to reach Top 20 status in the country. The University of Virginia and the University of Michigan have graduation rates of 91 percent and 81 percent.

On that list, UK ranks 16th, above Ohio State University, the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota.

According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, the national six-year graduation rate is 51.8 percent.

Kraemer said he was pleased UK wasn't at the bottom of the benchmark list.

UK leads the state in 2001 six-year graduation rates; the closest contender is Murray State University, with 55 percent. Kentucky State University and the University of Louisville each score roughly 33 percent.

The report also found that retention rates of African-American students have increased to nearly the rate of white students, 77.5 percent to 79.3 percent.

And while graduation rates for black students have improved from 34.8 percent to 43.2 percent, a large gap - 43.2 percent compared with 59.1 percent - still exists between black and white students.

The study found that women have higher retention and graduation rates than men. In particular, graduation rates for women are about 4 percentage points higher.