by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Claremont McKenna 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 Claremont McKenna. 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 98% students making it past their freshmen year, Claremont McKenna 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 | |
|---|---|
| Claremont McKenna | 98% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 312 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 83% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 91% of the students had graduated and after eight years 91% 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 Claremont McKenna graduation rate 91%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 286 | 83% |
| Six Years | 312 | 91% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 31 | 9% |
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 31 students or 9% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 31 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
Claremont McKenna lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 26 | 83.9% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 16.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 95% |
| Black / African-American | 92% |
| Hispanic | 93% |
| International | 93% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 96% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 96% |
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 Claremont McKenna are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Claremont McKenna College represent 93.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Claremont McKenna graduation rate was 91%, and by the eight year mark, 91% 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 | Claremont McKenna | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 83% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 91% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 91% | 47.82% |
28 first-time / full-time students or 9% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
Claremont McKenna lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 24 | 85.71% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 14.29% |
We don’t have data for this cohort at Claremont McKenna College.
Returning / full-time students at Claremont McKenna College represent 6.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Claremont McKenna graduation rate was 86%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 | Claremont McKenna | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 86% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 55.07% |
3 non first-time / part-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
Claremont McKenna lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 33.33% |
We don’t have data for this cohort at Claremont McKenna College.
