by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Eastern 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 Eastern 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 69% students making it past their freshmen year, Eastern Michigan has freshmen retention rates near 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 | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan | 69% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 2673 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 54% 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 Eastern Michigan graduation rate 51%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1790 | 34% |
| Six Years | 2673 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 135 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2400 | 46% |
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 2400 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2400 students who did not complete their degree?
35 are still enrolled.
1301 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Michigan lost contact with the remaining 1039 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 35 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 1301 | 54.2% |
| Dropped Out | 1039 | 43.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 44% |
| Asian | 53% |
| Black / African-American | 29% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 37% |
| International | 39% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 40% |
| White | 53% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Eastern Michigan are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Eastern Michigan University represent 53.71% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Eastern Michigan graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Eastern Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
1443 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
39 are still enrolled.
830 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Michigan lost contact with the remaining 574 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 39 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 830 | 57.52% |
| Dropped Out | 574 | 39.78% |
First-time / part-time students at Eastern Michigan University represent 1.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Eastern Michigan graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Eastern Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
65 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Michigan lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 31 | 47.69% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 52.31% |
Returning / full-time students at Eastern Michigan University represent 25.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Eastern Michigan graduation rate was 66%, 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 | Eastern Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
408 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
218 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Michigan lost contact with the remaining 181 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 218 | 53.43% |
| Dropped Out | 181 | 44.36% |
Returning / part-time students at Eastern Michigan University represent 19.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Eastern Michigan graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Eastern Michigan | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
484 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
222 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Michigan lost contact with the remaining 250 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.48% |
| Transferred | 222 | 45.87% |
| Dropped Out | 250 | 51.65% |
