by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CSM first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at CSM. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, CSM has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CSM | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1250 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical CSM graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1109 | 25% |
| Six Years | 1250 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 59 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3049 | 70% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 3049 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3049 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1208 transferred to another institution.
CSM lost contact with the remaining 1792 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1208 | 39.6% |
| Dropped Out | 1792 | 58.8% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at CSM are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at College of San Mateo represent 24.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CSM graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 54% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | CSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 49% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
491 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
122 transferred to another institution.
CSM lost contact with the remaining 359 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 122 | 24.85% |
| Dropped Out | 359 | 73.12% |
First-time / part-time students at College of San Mateo represent 22.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CSM graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 31% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | CSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
693 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
155 transferred to another institution.
CSM lost contact with the remaining 529 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.30% |
| Transferred | 155 | 22.37% |
| Dropped Out | 529 | 76.33% |
Returning / full-time students at College of San Mateo represent 5.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CSM graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 39% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | CSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 37% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 55.07% |
148 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
88 transferred to another institution.
CSM lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 88 | 59.46% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 37.84% |
Returning / part-time students at College of San Mateo represent 47.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CSM graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 16% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | CSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 37.80% |
1717 non first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
843 transferred to another institution.
CSM lost contact with the remaining 848 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.51% |
| Transferred | 843 | 49.10% |
| Dropped Out | 848 | 49.39% |
