by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to MSMU after their first year? Are MSMU students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, MSMU 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MSMU | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 551 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
47% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 65% in six years, and 65% in eight years.
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 MSMU graduation rate 65%.
The average MSMU student takes 4.29 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 453 | 53% |
| Six Years | 551 | 65% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 295 | 35% |
Approximately 295 students or 35% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 295 students who did not complete their degree?
1 are still enrolled.
200 transferred to another institution.
MSMU lost contact with the remaining 82 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 200 | 67.8% |
| Dropped Out | 82 | 27.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 60% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 25% |
| Unknown | 83% |
| White | 70% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 MSMU are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Mount Saint Mary's University represent 46% of the students in the class of 2015, and 46.46% of MSMU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 47%, first-time students in the MSMU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the MSMU graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | MSMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 65% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 47.82% |
135 first-time / full-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
MSMU lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.74% |
| Transferred | 110 | 81.48% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 17.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Mount Saint Mary's University represent 2.11% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time, part-time students in the MSMU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | MSMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 28% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
MSMU lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 15.38% |
| Transferred | 3 | 23.08% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 61.54% |
239 MSMU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.02% 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 76%, 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 77%.
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 | MSMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 76% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
54 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
MSMU lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.70% |
| Transferred | 39 | 72.22% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 24.07% |
204 MSMU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 23.92% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 53%, 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 54%.
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 | MSMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 53% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 37.80% |
93 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
48 transferred to another institution.
MSMU lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 7.53% |
| Transferred | 48 | 51.61% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 40.86% |
