by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Marshall 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 Marshall 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, Marshall 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Marshall University | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
There were approximately 1446 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 53% 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 Marshall University graduation rate 53%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1079 | 39% |
| Six Years | 1446 | 53% |
| Eight Years | 51 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1255 | 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 1255 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1255 students who did not complete their degree?
19 are still enrolled.
512 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 716 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 512 | 40.8% |
| Dropped Out | 716 | 57.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 43% |
| Asian | 73% |
| Black / African-American | 43% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 44% |
| Unknown | 30% |
| White | 49% |
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.
The majority of students at Marshall 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 Marshall University represent 69.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Marshall 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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 47.82% |
907 first-time / full-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
386 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 501 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 386 | 42.56% |
| Dropped Out | 501 | 55.24% |
First-time / part-time students at Marshall University represent 0.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Marshall University graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 16.67% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 83.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Marshall University represent 25.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Marshall University graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
282 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.48% |
| Transferred | 107 | 37.94% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 59.57% |
Returning / part-time students at Marshall University represent 4.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Marshall University graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 54% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
60 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 18 | 30.00% |
| Dropped Out | 42 | 70.00% |
