by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MATC 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 MATC. 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 64% students making it past their freshmen year, MATC 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 Wisconsin, the average is 74.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MATC | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Wisconsin | 74.47% |
Of the 1629 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 33% 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 MATC graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1401 | 27% |
| Six Years | 1629 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 85 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3451 | 67% |
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 3451 students or 67% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3451 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1006 transferred to another institution.
MATC lost contact with the remaining 2284 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1006 | 29.2% |
| Dropped Out | 2284 | 66.2% |
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 MATC 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 Milwaukee Area Technical College represent 29.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MATC graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | MATC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 47.82% |
1067 first-time / full-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
47 are still enrolled.
255 transferred to another institution.
MATC lost contact with the remaining 765 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 47 | 4.40% |
| Transferred | 255 | 23.90% |
| Dropped Out | 765 | 71.70% |
First-time / part-time students at Milwaukee Area Technical College represent 28.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MATC graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | MATC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
1081 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
63 are still enrolled.
209 transferred to another institution.
MATC lost contact with the remaining 809 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 63 | 5.83% |
| Transferred | 209 | 19.33% |
| Dropped Out | 809 | 74.84% |
Returning / full-time students at Milwaukee Area Technical College represent 15.51% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MATC graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | MATC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 35% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
513 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
213 transferred to another institution.
MATC lost contact with the remaining 279 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 4.09% |
| Transferred | 213 | 41.52% |
| Dropped Out | 279 | 54.39% |
Returning / part-time students at Milwaukee Area Technical College represent 25.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MATC graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | MATC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
790 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
329 transferred to another institution.
MATC lost contact with the remaining 431 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.80% |
| Transferred | 329 | 41.65% |
| Dropped Out | 431 | 54.56% |
