by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding St. Cloud State University 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 71% students making it past their freshmen year, St. Cloud State University 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| St. Cloud State University | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
Of the 1673 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 St. Cloud State University graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1184 | 35% |
| Six Years | 1673 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 57 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1645 | 49% |
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 1645 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1645 students who did not complete their degree?
41 are still enrolled.
997 transferred to another institution.
St. Cloud State University lost contact with the remaining 624 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 2.5% |
| Transferred | 997 | 60.6% |
| Dropped Out | 624 | 37.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 38% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hispanic | 31% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 31% |
| Unknown | 80% |
| White | 51% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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 St. Cloud State University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Saint Cloud State University represent 55.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the St. Cloud State University graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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 | St. Cloud State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 47.82% |
998 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
659 transferred to another institution.
St. Cloud State University lost contact with the remaining 324 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.50% |
| Transferred | 659 | 66.03% |
| Dropped Out | 324 | 32.46% |
First-time / part-time students at Saint Cloud State University represent 1.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the St. Cloud State University graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | St. Cloud State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
36 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
St. Cloud State University lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 22 | 61.11% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 36.11% |
Returning / full-time students at Saint Cloud State University represent 31.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the St. Cloud State University graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 62% 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 | St. Cloud State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 55.07% |
414 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
209 transferred to another institution.
St. Cloud State University lost contact with the remaining 199 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.45% |
| Transferred | 209 | 50.48% |
| Dropped Out | 199 | 48.07% |
Returning / part-time students at Saint Cloud State University represent 10.87% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the St. Cloud State University graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | St. Cloud State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
197 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
St. Cloud State University lost contact with the remaining 88 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.02% |
| Transferred | 107 | 54.31% |
| Dropped Out | 88 | 44.67% |
