by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many RMU 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 RMU. 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 83% students making it past their freshmen year, RMU 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RMU | 83% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 879 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 51% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 63% of the students had graduated and after eight years 63% 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 RMU graduation rate 63%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 721 | 51% |
| Six Years | 879 | 63% |
| Eight Years | 4 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 520 | 37% |
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 520 students or 37% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 520 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
296 transferred to another institution.
RMU lost contact with the remaining 216 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 296 | 56.9% |
| Dropped Out | 216 | 41.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 82% |
| Black / African-American | 32% |
| Hispanic | 100% |
| International | 63% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 55% |
| Unknown | 72% |
| White | 69% |
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 RMU 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 Robert Morris University represent 67.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMU graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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 | RMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 64% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 47.82% |
337 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
RMU lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.08% |
| Transferred | 193 | 57.27% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 40.65% |
First-time / part-time students at Robert Morris University represent 1.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMU graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | RMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
12 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
RMU lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 75.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 25.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Robert Morris University represent 23.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMU graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 73% 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 | RMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 73% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 73% | 55.07% |
88 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.
56 transferred to another institution.
RMU lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 56 | 63.64% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 36.36% |
Returning / part-time students at Robert Morris University represent 8.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMU graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | RMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
83 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
RMU lost contact with the remaining 44 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.20% |
| Transferred | 38 | 45.78% |
| Dropped Out | 44 | 53.01% |
