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CSM Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

36% 4-Year Graduation Rate
24% 6-Year Graduation Rate
70% Retention Rate

College of San Mateo 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many CSM first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CSM retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.

CSM Retention Rate

70% Freshmen Retention Rate
Below Average Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, CSM has freshmen retention rates similar to 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%.

CSM Retention  70 out of 100
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100%
California Retention  73 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
CSM70%
Nationwide70.57%
California73.07%
Low retention rates may be a signal that a lot of students plan on transferring after a year or two. Is that the case here?

CSM Graduation Rates

24% 6-Year Graduation Rate
45.03% Transfer Rate
27.74% Dropout Rate

How many of the estimated 3,214 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?

36% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 24% in six years, and 26% in eight years.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official CSM graduation rate 24%.

Four Year Graduation Rate  20%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  24%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  26%
0%
100%

CSM Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years2,73220%
Six Years3,21424%
Eight Years2222%
Did Not Complete9,96474%
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.
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CSM Drop Out Rate

Approximately 9964 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 9964 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.0%
Transferred603460.6%
Dropped Out3,71737.3%

CSM Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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 CSM are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time CSM Graduation Rates

5% First-Time, Full-Time
44% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at College of San Mateo represent 5% of the students in the class of 2015, and 9.68% of CSM bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 36%, first-time students in the CSM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the CSM graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  36 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  44 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  47 out of 100
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100%

CSM First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsCSMNationwide
Four Years36%37.92%
Six Years44%46.43%
Eight Years47%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time CSM Drop Out Rates

378 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred21657.14%
Dropped Out15641.27%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

9% First-Time, Part-Time
17% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at College of San Mateo represent 8.55% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 17%, first-time, part-time students in the CSM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 19%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  17 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  19 out of 100
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100%

First-Time / Part-Time CSM Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsCSMNationwide
Four Years12%14.37%
Six Years17%21.59%
Eight Years19%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time CSM Drop Out Rates

923 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled121.30%
Transferred36639.65%
Dropped Out54559.05%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

16% Returning, Full-Time
43% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

2152 CSM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.06% 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 43%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  43 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  45 out of 100
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100%

CSM Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsCSMNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years43%53.83%
Eight Years45%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time CSM Drop Out Rates

1192 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled201.68%
Transferred81468.29%
Dropped Out35830.03%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

70% Returning, Part-Time
19% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

9394 CSM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 70.10% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 19%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  19 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  20 out of 100
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100%

CSM Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsCSMNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years19%36.03%
Eight Years20%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time CSM Drop Out Rates

7471 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled1752.34%
Transferred463862.08%
Dropped Out2,65835.58%

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