Technical Appendix: University Graduate Retention in New Brunswick 2023 Graduate Cohort Update

Abstract

Graduate retention remains an important area of study in New Brunswick, particularly as the province monitors long-term patterns in postsecondary outcomes. Using linked administrative data from the New Brunswick University Graduates data set and the latest update to the provincial Medicare registry at DataNB provides one year retention results for university graduates from the province’s four publicly funded universities between 2010 and 2023. The analysis examines retention by previous residence, field and level of study, and institution, continuing the Graduate Retention in New Brunswick series first released in 2021.

The 2023 cohort update shows that 4,350 students graduated from publicly funded universities, of whom approximately 70% were living in New Brunswick one year later. Retention remained highest among graduates originally from New Brunswick, while the share of international graduates continued to grow. Variation across fields and institutions persisted, with nursing showing the highest one-year retention and Saint Thomas University recording the highest retention in 2023.