by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Minnesota West retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Minnesota West 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota West | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
How many of the estimated 329 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 45% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 46% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 Minnesota West graduation rate 46%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 317 | 45% |
| Six Years | 329 | 46% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 376 | 53% |
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 376 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 376 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
144 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 224 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 144 | 38.3% |
| Dropped Out | 224 | 59.6% |
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 Minnesota West are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College represent 46.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Minnesota West graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 50% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
162 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 98 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 61 | 37.65% |
| Dropped Out | 98 | 60.49% |
First-time / part-time students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College represent 12.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Minnesota West graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
62 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 48 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.84% |
| Transferred | 11 | 17.74% |
| Dropped Out | 48 | 77.42% |
Returning / full-time students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College represent 22.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Minnesota West graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
74 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.
29 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 29 | 39.19% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 58.11% |
Returning / part-time students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College represent 19.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Minnesota West 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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
78 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.
43 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 43 | 55.13% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 44.87% |
