by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Morehead State University 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 Morehead State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, Morehead State University 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 Kentucky, the average is 67.55%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Morehead State University | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
There were approximately 1065 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 40% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 51% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% 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 Morehead State University graduation rate 51%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 840 | 40% |
| Six Years | 1065 | 51% |
| Eight Years | 27 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 994 | 48% |
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 994 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 994 students who did not complete their degree?
8 are still enrolled.
783 transferred to another institution.
Morehead State University lost contact with the remaining 203 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 783 | 78.8% |
| Dropped Out | 203 | 20.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 30% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 60% |
| International | 64% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 48% |
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 Morehead State University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Morehead State University represent 65.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Morehead State University graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | Morehead State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
683 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
506 transferred to another institution.
Morehead State University lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.88% |
| Transferred | 506 | 74.08% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 25.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Morehead State University represent 1.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Morehead State University graduation rate was 6%, and by the eight year mark, 6% 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 | Morehead State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 6% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 6% | 23.72% |
30 first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Morehead State University lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 20 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 33.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Morehead State University represent 21.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Morehead State University graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Morehead State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
165 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
156 transferred to another institution.
Morehead State University lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.21% |
| Transferred | 156 | 94.55% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 4.24% |
Returning / part-time students at Morehead State University represent 11.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Morehead State University graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | Morehead State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 46% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
116 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
101 transferred to another institution.
Morehead State University lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 101 | 87.07% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 12.93% |
