by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Murray State retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Murray State 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 Kentucky, the average is 67.55%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Murray State | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
How many of the estimated 1,381 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
36% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 52% in six years, and 53% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of Murray State is 52%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Murray State? The standard length of time for most students is 4.53 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,126 | 42% |
| Six Years | 1,381 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,240 | 47% |
Approximately 1240 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1240 students who did not complete their degree?
24 are still enrolled.
678 transferred to another institution.
Murray State lost contact with the remaining 557 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.9% |
| Transferred | 678 | 54.7% |
| Dropped Out | 557 | 44.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 54% |
| Black / African-American | 30% |
| Hispanic | 27% |
| International | 40% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 46% |
| Unknown | 46% |
| White | 57% |
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 Murray State 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 Murray State University represent 60% of the students in the class of 2015, and 55.61% of Murray State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 36%, first-time students in the Murray State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Murray State graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | Murray State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
795 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
441 transferred to another institution.
Murray State lost contact with the remaining 352 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 3.02% |
| Transferred | 441 | 55.47% |
| Dropped Out | 352 | 44.28% |
First-time / part-time students at Murray State University represent 2.45% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time, part-time students in the Murray State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 26%.
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 | Murray State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
48 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
Murray State lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 23 | 47.92% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 52.08% |
729 Murray State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 27.43% 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 63%, 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 63%.
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 | Murray State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
270 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.
151 transferred to another institution.
Murray State lost contact with the remaining 117 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.74% |
| Transferred | 151 | 55.93% |
| Dropped Out | 117 | 43.33% |
271 Murray State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.20% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 52%, 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 53%.
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 | Murray State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 52% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 37.80% |
127 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
63 transferred to another institution.
Murray State lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.79% |
| Transferred | 63 | 49.61% |
| Dropped Out | 63 | 49.61% |
