by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CSUSM first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CSUSM retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 84% students making it past their freshmen year, CSUSM 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 | |
|---|---|
| CSUSM | 84% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 1,575 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
14% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 61% in six years, and 64% in eight years.
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 CSUSM graduation rate 61%.
The average length of time it takes an CSUSM undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.91 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 942 | 36% |
| Six Years | 1,575 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 79 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 941 | 36% |
Approximately 941 students or 36% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 941 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
619 transferred to another institution.
CSUSM lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.6% |
| Transferred | 619 | 65.8% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 31.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 57% |
| Asian | 58% |
| Black / African-American | 57% |
| Hawaiian | 17% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 31% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 54% |
| White | 58% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 CSUSM are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at California State University - San Marcos represent 52% of the students in the class of 2015, and 45.84% of CSUSM bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time students in the CSUSM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CSUSM graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 58% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | CSUSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 47.82% |
576 first-time / full-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
414 transferred to another institution.
CSUSM lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 414 | 71.88% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 25.35% |
First-time / part-time students at California State University - San Marcos represent 3.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 44%, first-time, part-time students in the CSUSM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 51%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | CSUSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 44% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 23.72% |
45 first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
CSUSM lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 6.67% |
| Transferred | 29 | 64.44% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 28.89% |
775 CSUSM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 29.87% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 76%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 76%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | CSUSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 76% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 55.07% |
185 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
CSUSM lost contact with the remaining 84 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 96 | 51.89% |
| Dropped Out | 84 | 45.41% |
367 CSUSM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 62%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 63%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | CSUSM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 62% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 37.80% |
135 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
CSUSM lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.96% |
| Transferred | 80 | 59.26% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 37.78% |
