by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Metro State 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 Metro State. 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Metro State 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Metro State | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
Of the 1684 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 49% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 58% 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 Metro State graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1467 | 49% |
| Six Years | 1684 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 71 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1247 | 42% |
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 1247 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1247 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
521 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 683 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 521 | 41.8% |
| Dropped Out | 683 | 54.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 52% |
| Black / African-American | 27% |
| International | 20% |
| White | 36% |
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 Metro State are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Metropolitan State University represent 3.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Metro State graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
72 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 41 | 56.94% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 38.89% |
First-time / part-time students at Metropolitan State University represent 2.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Metro State graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
48 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 27 | 56.25% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 39.58% |
Returning / full-time students at Metropolitan State University represent 34.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Metro State graduation rate was 66%, 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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
331 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
138 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.42% |
| Transferred | 138 | 41.69% |
| Dropped Out | 185 | 55.89% |
Returning / part-time students at Metropolitan State University represent 59.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Metro State graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 37.80% |
796 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
315 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 451 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.77% |
| Transferred | 315 | 39.57% |
| Dropped Out | 451 | 56.66% |
