by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MUW 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 MUW. 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 67% students making it past their freshmen year, MUW 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MUW | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
Of the 720 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 59% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 63% 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 MUW graduation rate 63%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 667 | 59% |
| Six Years | 720 | 63% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 404 | 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 404 students or 36% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 404 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
209 transferred to another institution.
MUW lost contact with the remaining 191 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.5% |
| Transferred | 209 | 51.7% |
| Dropped Out | 191 | 47.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 20% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| White | 38% |
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 MUW 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 Mississippi University for Women represent 26.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MUW graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | MUW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 37% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
187 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
76 transferred to another institution.
MUW lost contact with the remaining 109 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.07% |
| Transferred | 76 | 40.64% |
| Dropped Out | 109 | 58.29% |
First-time / part-time students at Mississippi University for Women represent 0.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MUW graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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 | MUW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
MUW lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 100.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Mississippi University for Women represent 64.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MUW graduation rate was 76%, and by the eight year mark, 77% 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 | MUW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 76% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
172 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
MUW lost contact with the remaining 69 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.58% |
| Transferred | 102 | 59.30% |
| Dropped Out | 69 | 40.12% |
Returning / part-time students at Mississippi University for Women represent 8.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MUW graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | MUW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 49% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
44 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
MUW lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.27% |
| Transferred | 31 | 70.45% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 27.27% |
