by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Mississippi State 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 Mississippi State. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 83% students making it past their freshmen year, Mississippi State 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
How many of the estimated 3699 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 47% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 62% of the students had graduated and after eight years 64% 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 Mississippi State graduation rate 62%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2764 | 47% |
| Six Years | 3699 | 62% |
| Eight Years | 73 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2153 | 36% |
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 2153 students or 36% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2153 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
1498 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 629 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 1498 | 69.6% |
| Dropped Out | 629 | 29.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hispanic | 48% |
| International | 47% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 71% |
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 Mississippi State 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 Mississippi State University represent 61.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Mississippi State graduation rate was 63%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 63% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
1322 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
946 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 364 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 0.91% |
| Transferred | 946 | 71.56% |
| Dropped Out | 364 | 27.53% |
First-time / part-time students at Mississippi State University represent 0.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Mississippi State graduation rate was 7%, and by the eight year mark, 7% 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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 15.38% |
| Transferred | 9 | 69.23% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 15.38% |
Returning / full-time students at Mississippi State University represent 34.28% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Mississippi State graduation rate was 66%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
672 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
460 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 202 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.49% |
| Transferred | 460 | 68.45% |
| Dropped Out | 202 | 30.06% |
Returning / part-time students at Mississippi State University represent 3.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Mississippi State graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
146 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
83 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 61 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.37% |
| Transferred | 83 | 56.85% |
| Dropped Out | 61 | 41.78% |
