The Tertiary Education Commission is releasing its annual educational performance indicator report today.
Eighty-nine percent of students completed their course at Otago, 84% of first-year students stayed in study, 73% completed their qualifications, and 89% progressed to higher level study after completing their qualifications.
In progression from sub-degree to degree level study, the university ranked fourth. However, a statement from the university said Otago had ''minimal activity'' in that area.
Otago also topped three of the same four measures in 2017 and made a clean sweep of all key indicators in 2016.
It ranked first this time for Maori and Pacific Island student qualification completions, first for retention of Maori students, second for retention of Pacific Island students, and second for both Maori and Pacific student course completion.
Office of Maori development director Tuari Potiki said the result was a ''testament to the high priority that the university places on Maori student success, and the large number of university staff who work tirelessly to support Maori students to succeed''.
Academic deputy vice-chancellor Associate Prof Pat Cragg said she welcomed Otago's strong performance.
She understood it was the first time Maori and Pacific qualification completion had been measured, and said it was encouraging the university was in first place.
She did not know how qualification completion rates broke down by division, but said she expected professional courses such as law and medicine to have the highest completion rates.
The 27% of students who failed to complete their qualifications would often use parts of their degrees to put towards other courses. An example was beginning a postgraduate certificate but going on to do a postgraduate diploma or a master's degree instead.
She attributed student retention and completion rates partly to Otago providing good residential support and care in their first year via the residential colleges.
