by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many McPherson College 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 McPherson College. 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, McPherson College has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| McPherson College | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
How many of the estimated 143 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 47% 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 McPherson College graduation rate 53%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 127 | 47% |
| Six Years | 143 | 53% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 125 | 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 125 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 125 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
83 transferred to another institution.
McPherson College lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 83 | 66.4% |
| Dropped Out | 42 | 33.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 50% |
| Unknown | 38% |
| White | 54% |
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 McPherson College 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 McPherson College represent 73.98% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the McPherson College graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | McPherson College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 47.82% |
102 first-time / full-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
McPherson College lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 68 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 33.33% |
First-time / part-time students at McPherson College represent 0.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the McPherson College graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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 | McPherson College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
McPherson College lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
Returning / full-time students at McPherson College represent 25.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the McPherson College graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | McPherson College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 68% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
22 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
McPherson College lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 63.64% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 36.36% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data for this cohort at McPherson College.
