by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Cornerstone 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 Cornerstone. 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 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Cornerstone 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 | |
|---|---|
| Cornerstone | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 712 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 59% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 65% of the students had graduated and after eight years 66% 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 Cornerstone graduation rate 65%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 655 | 59% |
| Six Years | 712 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 376 | 34% |
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 376 students or 34% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 376 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
115 transferred to another institution.
Cornerstone lost contact with the remaining 255 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 115 | 30.6% |
| Dropped Out | 255 | 67.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 38% |
| Hispanic | 56% |
| International | 82% |
| White | 62% |
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 Cornerstone are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Cornerstone University represent 26.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cornerstone graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | Cornerstone | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 51% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 61% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
111 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
Cornerstone lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 70 | 63.06% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 36.94% |
First-time / part-time students at Cornerstone University represent 7.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cornerstone graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | Cornerstone | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
60 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Cornerstone lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 3 | 5.00% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 93.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Cornerstone University represent 30.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cornerstone graduation rate was 82%, and by the eight year mark, 82% 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 | Cornerstone | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 82% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 55.07% |
59 non first-time / part-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Cornerstone lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.39% |
| Transferred | 18 | 30.51% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 66.10% |
Returning / part-time students at Cornerstone University represent 36.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cornerstone graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Cornerstone | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 58% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 61% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 37.80% |
146 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
Cornerstone lost contact with the remaining 119 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.05% |
| Transferred | 24 | 16.44% |
| Dropped Out | 119 | 81.51% |
