by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MSU Denver 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 MSU Denver. 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, MSU Denver 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MSU Denver | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
Of the 2376 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 36% of the students had graduated and after eight years 39% 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 MSU Denver graduation rate 36%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1600 | 24% |
| Six Years | 2376 | 36% |
| Eight Years | 208 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 4070 | 61% |
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 4070 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4070 students who did not complete their degree?
57 are still enrolled.
1815 transferred to another institution.
MSU Denver lost contact with the remaining 2103 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 57 | 1.4% |
| Transferred | 1815 | 44.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2103 | 51.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 17% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hispanic | 28% |
| International | 25% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 21% |
| Unknown | 27% |
| White | 35% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at MSU Denver are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Metropolitan State University of Denver represent 30.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Denver graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | MSU Denver | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
1393 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
63 are still enrolled.
603 transferred to another institution.
MSU Denver lost contact with the remaining 727 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 63 | 4.52% |
| Transferred | 603 | 43.29% |
| Dropped Out | 727 | 52.19% |
First-time / part-time students at Metropolitan State University of Denver represent 7.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Denver graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | MSU Denver | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
407 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
136 transferred to another institution.
MSU Denver lost contact with the remaining 250 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 5.16% |
| Transferred | 136 | 33.42% |
| Dropped Out | 250 | 61.43% |
Returning / full-time students at Metropolitan State University of Denver represent 34.48% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Denver graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | MSU Denver | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 51% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
1064 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
33 are still enrolled.
489 transferred to another institution.
MSU Denver lost contact with the remaining 542 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 33 | 3.10% |
| Transferred | 489 | 45.96% |
| Dropped Out | 542 | 50.94% |
Returning / part-time students at Metropolitan State University of Denver represent 27.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MSU Denver graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | MSU Denver | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 37.80% |
1206 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
35 are still enrolled.
587 transferred to another institution.
MSU Denver lost contact with the remaining 584 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 35 | 2.90% |
| Transferred | 587 | 48.67% |
| Dropped Out | 584 | 48.42% |
