by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Michigan State retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 90% students making it past their freshmen year, Michigan State 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Michigan State | 90% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 8480 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 65% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 81% of the students had graduated and after eight years 82% 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 Michigan State graduation rate 81%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6796 | 65% |
| Six Years | 8480 | 81% |
| Eight Years | 90 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1852 | 18% |
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 1852 students or 18% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1852 students who did not complete their degree?
22 are still enrolled.
1201 transferred to another institution.
Michigan State lost contact with the remaining 628 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1201 | 64.8% |
| Dropped Out | 628 | 33.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 83% |
| Asian | 85% |
| Black / African-American | 65% |
| Hawaiian | 80% |
| Hispanic | 69% |
| International | 79% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 81% |
| Unknown | 86% |
| White | 85% |
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 Michigan State 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 Michigan State University represent 77.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Michigan State graduation rate was 82%, and by the eight year mark, 82% 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 | Michigan State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 63% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 82% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 82% | 47.82% |
1422 first-time / full-time students or 18% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
933 transferred to another institution.
Michigan State lost contact with the remaining 470 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.34% |
| Transferred | 933 | 65.61% |
| Dropped Out | 470 | 33.05% |
First-time / part-time students at Michigan State University represent 2.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Michigan State 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Michigan State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 48% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 23.72% |
108 first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
Michigan State lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 57 | 52.78% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 47.22% |
Returning / full-time students at Michigan State University represent 17.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Michigan State graduation rate was 87%, and by the eight year mark, 87% 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 | Michigan State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 87% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 87% | 55.07% |
238 non first-time / part-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
160 transferred to another institution.
Michigan State lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.84% |
| Transferred | 160 | 67.23% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 31.93% |
Returning / part-time students at Michigan State University represent 2.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Michigan State graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | Michigan State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 56% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 65% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 37.80% |
84 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
Michigan State lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.38% |
| Transferred | 51 | 60.71% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 36.90% |
