by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MAC 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 MAC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, MAC 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MAC | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
Of the 428 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 39% of the students had graduated and after eight years 40% 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 MAC graduation rate 39%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 398 | 37% |
| Six Years | 428 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 6 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 651 | 60% |
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 651 students or 60% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 651 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
222 transferred to another institution.
MAC lost contact with the remaining 419 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 222 | 34.1% |
| Dropped Out | 419 | 64.4% |
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 MAC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Mineral Area College represent 69.03% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MAC graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | MAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
439 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
154 transferred to another institution.
MAC lost contact with the remaining 279 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.37% |
| Transferred | 154 | 35.08% |
| Dropped Out | 279 | 63.55% |
First-time / part-time students at Mineral Area College represent 13.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MAC graduation rate was 21%, 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 | MAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
114 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
MAC lost contact with the remaining 88 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 23 | 20.18% |
| Dropped Out | 88 | 77.19% |
Returning / full-time students at Mineral Area College represent 10.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MAC graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | MAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
57 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
30 transferred to another institution.
MAC lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 30 | 52.63% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 45.61% |
Returning / part-time students at Mineral Area College represent 6.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MAC graduation rate was 44%, 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 | MAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
41 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
MAC lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 15 | 36.59% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 63.41% |
