by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Saint Mary 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 Saint Mary. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Saint Mary 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 Nebraska, the average is 73.00%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Saint Mary | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Nebraska | 73.00% |
There were approximately 198 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 61% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 70% of the students had graduated and after eight years 71% 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 Saint Mary graduation rate 70%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 173 | 61% |
| Six Years | 198 | 70% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 83 | 29% |
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 83 students or 29% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 83 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
Saint Mary lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 52 | 62.7% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 37.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 63% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| White | 61% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Saint Mary are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 College of Saint Mary represent 37.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Mary graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | Saint Mary | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 67% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 47.82% |
35 first-time / full-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
Saint Mary lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 22 | 62.86% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 37.14% |
At this time we lack data for this cohort at College of Saint Mary.
Returning / full-time students at College of Saint Mary represent 60.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Mary graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 | Saint Mary | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 72% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 55.07% |
47 non first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Saint Mary lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 29 | 61.70% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 38.30% |
Returning / part-time students at College of Saint Mary represent 1.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Saint Mary graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | Saint Mary | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 67% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 67% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 37.80% |
1 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Saint Mary lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
