by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Lake Superior State University 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 Lake Superior State University. 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 79% students making it past their freshmen year, Lake Superior State University 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 | |
|---|---|
| Lake Superior State University | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 357 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 55% of the students had graduated and after eight years 56% 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 Lake Superior State University graduation rate 55%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 270 | 41% |
| Six Years | 357 | 55% |
| Eight Years | 9 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 288 | 44% |
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 288 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 288 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
159 transferred to another institution.
Lake Superior State University lost contact with the remaining 127 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 159 | 55.2% |
| Dropped Out | 127 | 44.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 54% |
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hispanic | 22% |
| International | 85% |
| Unknown | 55% |
| White | 57% |
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 Lake Superior State University 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 Lake Superior State University represent 59.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lake Superior State University 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Lake Superior State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 47.82% |
183 first-time / full-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
109 transferred to another institution.
Lake Superior State University lost contact with the remaining 72 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 109 | 59.56% |
| Dropped Out | 72 | 39.34% |
First-time / part-time students at Lake Superior State University represent 1.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lake Superior State University graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Lake Superior State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
5 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Lake Superior State University lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 20.00% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 80.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Lake Superior State University represent 29.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lake Superior State University graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Lake Superior State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
72 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Lake Superior State University lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 35 | 48.61% |
| Dropped Out | 37 | 51.39% |
Returning / part-time students at Lake Superior State University represent 9.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lake Superior State University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | Lake Superior State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 51% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 57% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 37.80% |
28 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
Lake Superior State University lost contact with the remaining 14 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 14 | 50.00% |
