by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at MSU Moorhead? 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, MSU Moorhead has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MSU Moorhead | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
Of the 1,066 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 26% of the cohort graduated. After six years 51% had completed their degree, and 52% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of MSU Moorhead is 51%. 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 average length of time it takes an MSU Moorhead undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.42 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 766 | 36% |
| Six Years | 1,066 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,011 | 48% |
Approximately 1011 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1011 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
585 transferred to another institution.
MSU Moorhead lost contact with the remaining 411 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 585 | 57.9% |
| Dropped Out | 411 | 40.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 17% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| International | 47% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 27% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| White | 58% |
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 MSU Moorhead 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 Minnesota State University - Moorhead represent 53% of the students in the class of 2015, and 48.50% of MSU Moorhead bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time students in the MSU Moorhead class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the MSU Moorhead graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | MSU Moorhead | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
573 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
353 transferred to another institution.
MSU Moorhead lost contact with the remaining 212 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.09% |
| Transferred | 353 | 61.61% |
| Dropped Out | 212 | 37.00% |
First-time / part-time students at Minnesota State University - Moorhead represent 2.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the MSU Moorhead class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 25%.
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.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | MSU Moorhead | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
40 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
MSU Moorhead lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 24 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 40.00% |
714 MSU Moorhead students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 33.84% 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 59%, 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 60%.
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | MSU Moorhead | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
288 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
MSU Moorhead lost contact with the remaining 126 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.74% |
| Transferred | 157 | 54.51% |
| Dropped Out | 126 | 43.75% |
233 MSU Moorhead students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.04% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 51%, 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 53%.
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | MSU Moorhead | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
110 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
MSU Moorhead lost contact with the remaining 57 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 51 | 46.36% |
| Dropped Out | 57 | 51.82% |
