by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Missouri Southern 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 Missouri Southern. 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Missouri Southern 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 | |
|---|---|
| Missouri Southern | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
Of the 932 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 45% 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 Missouri Southern graduation rate 43%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 732 | 34% |
| Six Years | 932 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 38 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1176 | 55% |
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 1176 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1176 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
576 transferred to another institution.
Missouri Southern lost contact with the remaining 578 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 576 | 49.0% |
| Dropped Out | 578 | 49.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 18% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 21% |
| Unknown | 28% |
| White | 42% |
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 Missouri Southern are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Missouri Southern State University represent 49.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Missouri Southern graduation rate was 36%, 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 | Missouri Southern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
660 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
328 transferred to another institution.
Missouri Southern lost contact with the remaining 319 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 328 | 49.70% |
| Dropped Out | 319 | 48.33% |
First-time / part-time students at Missouri Southern State University represent 3.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Missouri Southern graduation rate was 12%, and by the eight year mark, 12% 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 | Missouri Southern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
74 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
30 transferred to another institution.
Missouri Southern lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.35% |
| Transferred | 30 | 40.54% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 58.11% |
Returning / full-time students at Missouri Southern State University represent 33.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Missouri Southern graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | Missouri Southern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 55.07% |
286 non first-time / part-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
149 transferred to another institution.
Missouri Southern lost contact with the remaining 130 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.45% |
| Transferred | 149 | 52.10% |
| Dropped Out | 130 | 45.45% |
Returning / part-time students at Missouri Southern State University represent 12.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Missouri Southern graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | Missouri Southern | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
156 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
Missouri Southern lost contact with the remaining 86 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.64% |
| Transferred | 69 | 44.23% |
| Dropped Out | 86 | 55.13% |
