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Michigan State Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

52% 4-Year Graduation Rate
79% 6-Year Graduation Rate
91% Retention Rate

Michigan State University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at Michigan State? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.

Michigan State Retention Rate

91% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 91% 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%.

Michigan State Retention  91 out of 100
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100%
Michigan Retention  71 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
Michigan State91%
Nationwide70.57%
Michigan70.80%

Michigan State Graduation Rates

79% 6-Year Graduation Rate
13.88% Transfer Rate
5.10% Dropout Rate

Of the 8,104 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

52% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 79% in six years, and 81% in eight years.

The official graduation rate of Michigan State is 79%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.

The typical Michigan State student takes 4.35 years to complete their bachelor's degree.

Four Year Graduation Rate  55%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  79%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  81%
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100%

Michigan State Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years5,60455%
Six Years8,10479%
Eight Years1642%
Did Not Complete1,98019%
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.
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Michigan State Drop Out Rate

Approximately 1980 students or 19% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 1980 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled351.8%
Transferred142471.9%
Dropped Out52326.4%

Michigan State Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native81%
Asian87%
Black / African-American63%
Hawaiian78%
Hispanic72%
International81%
Multi-Ethnic74%
Unknown71%
White84%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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.

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time Michigan State Graduation Rates

77% First-Time, Full-Time
79% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Michigan State University represent 77% of the students in the class of 2015, and 77.30% of Michigan State bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 52%, first-time students in the Michigan State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Michigan State graduation rate was 79%, and by the eight year mark, 81% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  52 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  79 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  81 out of 100
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Michigan State First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsMichigan StateNationwide
Four Years52%37.92%
Six Years79%46.43%
Eight Years81%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time Michigan State Drop Out Rates

1488 first-time / full-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled352.35%
Transferred109673.66%
Dropped Out36424.46%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

2% First-Time, Part-Time
46% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Michigan State University represent 1.66% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 46%, first-time, part-time students in the Michigan State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  46 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  48 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time Michigan State Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsMichigan StateNationwide
Four Years26%14.37%
Six Years46%21.59%
Eight Years48%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time Michigan State Drop Out Rates

88 first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.14%
Transferred6675.00%
Dropped Out2123.86%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

19% Returning, Full-Time
82% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

1968 Michigan State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.18% of the students in the class of 2015.

Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.

With a six year graduation rate of 82%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 83%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  82 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  83 out of 100
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Michigan State Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsMichigan StateNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years82%53.83%
Eight Years83%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Michigan State Drop Out Rates

325 non first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled30.92%
Transferred21566.15%
Dropped Out10732.92%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

2% Returning, Part-Time
63% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

222 Michigan State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.16% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 63%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 64%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  63 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  64 out of 100
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Michigan State Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsMichigan StateNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years63%36.03%
Eight Years64%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Michigan State Drop Out Rates

79 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled11.27%
Transferred4759.49%
Dropped Out3139.24%

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