by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Northern Michigan University 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 Northern Michigan University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Northern Michigan University 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northern Michigan University | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 1104 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% 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 Northern Michigan University graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 834 | 42% |
| Six Years | 1104 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 32 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 844 | 43% |
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 844 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 844 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
436 transferred to another institution.
Northern Michigan University lost contact with the remaining 395 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 436 | 51.7% |
| Dropped Out | 395 | 46.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 27% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 28% |
| Hispanic | 35% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 44% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 53% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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.
The majority of students at Northern Michigan University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Northern Michigan University represent 70.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Michigan University graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | Northern Michigan University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
604 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
322 transferred to another institution.
Northern Michigan University lost contact with the remaining 273 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.49% |
| Transferred | 322 | 53.31% |
| Dropped Out | 273 | 45.20% |
First-time / part-time students at Northern Michigan University represent 1.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Michigan University graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Northern Michigan University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Northern Michigan University lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 2 | 8.70% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 86.96% |
Returning / full-time students at Northern Michigan University represent 25.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Michigan University graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 65% 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 | Northern Michigan University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 65% | 55.07% |
179 non first-time / part-time students or 35% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
Northern Michigan University lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.12% |
| Transferred | 102 | 56.98% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 41.90% |
Returning / part-time students at Northern Michigan University represent 2.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Michigan University graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Northern Michigan University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
38 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
Northern Michigan University lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 10 | 26.32% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 71.05% |
