by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Central Michigan 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 Central Michigan. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 75% 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 | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 3215 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 61% of the students had graduated and after eight years 62% 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 Central Michigan graduation rate 61%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2202 | 42% |
| Six Years | 3215 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 67 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2018 | 38% |
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 2018 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2018 students who did not complete their degree?
9 are still enrolled.
1287 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 708 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 1287 | 63.8% |
| Dropped Out | 708 | 35.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 28% |
| Asian | 62% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 79% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 75% |
| White | 65% |
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 65.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Michigan graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 47.82% |
1284 first-time / full-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
873 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 401 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.78% |
| Transferred | 873 | 67.99% |
| Dropped Out | 401 | 31.23% |
First-time / part-time students at Central Michigan University represent 1.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Michigan graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 7% 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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 23.72% |
57 first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
30 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 30 | 52.63% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 47.37% |
Returning / full-time students at Central Michigan University represent 23.62% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Michigan graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 69% 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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
382 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
242 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 135 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.31% |
| Transferred | 242 | 63.35% |
| Dropped Out | 135 | 35.34% |
Returning / part-time students at Central Michigan University represent 9.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Michigan graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Central Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
295 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
142 transferred to another institution.
Central Michigan lost contact with the remaining 145 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.71% |
| Transferred | 142 | 48.14% |
| Dropped Out | 145 | 49.15% |
