by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Mount Mercy after their first year? Are Mount Mercy students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, Mount Mercy 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Mount Mercy | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
How many of the estimated 410 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 56% of the cohort graduated. After six years 68% had completed their degree, and 68% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Mount Mercy graduation rate 68%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Mount Mercy? The standard length of time for most students is 4.22 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 403 | 67% |
| Six Years | 410 | 68% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 192 | 32% |
Approximately 192 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 192 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
117 transferred to another institution.
Mount Mercy lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 117 | 60.9% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 39.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 29% |
| Hispanic | 100% |
| International | 43% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 67% |
| Unknown | 40% |
| White | 60% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Mount Mercy are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Mount Mercy University represent 25% of the students in the class of 2015, and 21.22% of Mount Mercy bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 56%, first-time students in the Mount Mercy class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Mount Mercy graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Mount Mercy | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 56% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
66 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
Mount Mercy lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 44 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 33.33% |
First-time / part-time students at Mount Mercy University represent 0.17% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Mount Mercy | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 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.
Mount Mercy lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 100.00% |
198 Mount Mercy students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 32.89% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 73%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 73%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Mount Mercy | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 73% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 55.07% |
53 non first-time / part-time students or 27% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
Mount Mercy lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 27 | 50.94% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 49.06% |
250 Mount Mercy students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 41.53% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 71%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 71%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Mount Mercy | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 71% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 37.80% |
72 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
Mount Mercy lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 46 | 63.89% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 36.11% |
