by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Central Michigan first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Central Michigan retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Central Michigan 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 | |
|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 3,586 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 58% of the students had graduated and after eight years 60% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of Central Michigan is 58%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The typical Central Michigan student takes 4.65 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,003 | 32% |
| Six Years | 3,586 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 148 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,493 | 40% |
Approximately 2493 students or 40% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2493 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
1730 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 643 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 1730 | 69.4% |
| Dropped Out | 643 | 25.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 43% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 57% |
| International | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 47% |
| Unknown | 58% |
| White | 66% |
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.
The majority of students at Central Michigan 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 Central Michigan University represent 62% of the students in the class of 2015, and 62.60% of Central Michigan bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 24%, first-time students in the Central Michigan class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Central Michigan graduation rate was 58%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 58% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 47.82% |
1524 first-time / full-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
1171 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 280 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 0.98% |
| Transferred | 1171 | 76.84% |
| Dropped Out | 280 | 18.37% |
First-time / part-time students at Central Michigan University represent 1.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 8%, first-time, part-time students in the Central Michigan class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 11%.
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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
94 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.19% |
| Transferred | 35 | 37.23% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 59.57% |
1755 Central Michigan students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.18% 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 65%, 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 67%.
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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
582 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
401 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 151 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 5.15% |
| Transferred | 401 | 68.90% |
| Dropped Out | 151 | 25.95% |
508 Central Michigan students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, 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 42%.
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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
293 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
123 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 156 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 4.78% |
| Transferred | 123 | 41.98% |
| Dropped Out | 156 | 53.24% |
