by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Motlow 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 Motlow. 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 55% students making it past their freshmen year, Motlow 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Motlow | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
Of the 898 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, 36% of the students had graduated and after eight years 37% 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 Motlow graduation rate 36%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 843 | 34% |
| Six Years | 898 | 36% |
| Eight Years | 27 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1577 | 63% |
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 1577 students or 63% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1577 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
474 transferred to another institution.
Motlow lost contact with the remaining 1088 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 474 | 30.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1088 | 69.0% |
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 Motlow 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 Motlow State Community College represent 68.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Motlow graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Motlow | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
1022 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
260 transferred to another institution.
Motlow lost contact with the remaining 750 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.17% |
| Transferred | 260 | 25.44% |
| Dropped Out | 750 | 73.39% |
First-time / part-time students at Motlow State Community College represent 10.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Motlow graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | Motlow | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
202 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
Motlow lost contact with the remaining 157 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.50% |
| Transferred | 44 | 21.78% |
| Dropped Out | 157 | 77.72% |
Returning / full-time students at Motlow State Community College represent 8.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Motlow graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Motlow | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 40% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 55.07% |
122 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
63 transferred to another institution.
Motlow lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 63 | 51.64% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 48.36% |
Returning / part-time students at Motlow State Community College represent 12.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Motlow graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Motlow | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
231 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
Motlow lost contact with the remaining 122 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 107 | 46.32% |
| Dropped Out | 122 | 52.81% |
