by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Colorado Mesa 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 Colorado Mesa. 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 79% students making it past their freshmen year, Colorado Mesa 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa | 79% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
Of the 1279 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 Colorado Mesa graduation rate 41%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 906 | 29% |
| Six Years | 1279 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1789 | 57% |
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 1789 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1789 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
832 transferred to another institution.
Colorado Mesa lost contact with the remaining 923 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 832 | 46.5% |
| Dropped Out | 923 | 51.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 30% |
| Black / African-American | 16% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 35% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 32% |
| Unknown | 41% |
| White | 45% |
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 Colorado Mesa are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Colorado Mesa University represent 64.91% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Colorado Mesa graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Colorado Mesa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
1169 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
556 transferred to another institution.
Colorado Mesa lost contact with the remaining 595 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 556 | 47.56% |
| Dropped Out | 595 | 50.90% |
First-time / part-time students at Colorado Mesa University represent 5.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Colorado Mesa graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | Colorado Mesa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
129 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Colorado Mesa lost contact with the remaining 91 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 35 | 27.13% |
| Dropped Out | 91 | 70.54% |
Returning / full-time students at Colorado Mesa University represent 22.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Colorado Mesa graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | Colorado Mesa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
334 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
169 transferred to another institution.
Colorado Mesa lost contact with the remaining 158 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.10% |
| Transferred | 169 | 50.60% |
| Dropped Out | 158 | 47.31% |
Returning / part-time students at Colorado Mesa University represent 7.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Colorado Mesa graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | Colorado Mesa | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 37.80% |
157 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
Colorado Mesa lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.82% |
| Transferred | 72 | 45.86% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 50.32% |
