by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Middle Tennessee State University 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 Middle Tennessee State University. 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 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Middle Tennessee State University 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee State University | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
Of the 3251 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 44% 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 Middle Tennessee State University graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2521 | 44% |
| Six Years | 3251 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2414 | 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 2414 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2414 students who did not complete their degree?
37 are still enrolled.
1436 transferred to another institution.
Middle Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 944 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 1.5% |
| Transferred | 1436 | 59.5% |
| Dropped Out | 944 | 39.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 59% |
| Black / African-American | 44% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 80% |
| White | 59% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Middle Tennessee State University 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 Middle Tennessee State University represent 51.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middle Tennessee State University graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | Middle Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
1313 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
784 transferred to another institution.
Middle Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 501 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 2.13% |
| Transferred | 784 | 59.71% |
| Dropped Out | 501 | 38.16% |
First-time / part-time students at Middle Tennessee State University represent 0.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middle Tennessee State University graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Middle Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
31 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Middle Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.23% |
| Transferred | 12 | 38.71% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 58.06% |
Returning / full-time students at Middle Tennessee State University represent 36.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middle Tennessee State University graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | Middle Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
709 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
471 transferred to another institution.
Middle Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 234 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.56% |
| Transferred | 471 | 66.43% |
| Dropped Out | 234 | 33.00% |
Returning / part-time students at Middle Tennessee State University represent 11.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middle Tennessee State University graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Middle Tennessee State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
361 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
169 transferred to another institution.
Middle Tennessee State University lost contact with the remaining 191 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.28% |
| Transferred | 169 | 46.81% |
| Dropped Out | 191 | 52.91% |
