by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Southwest Minnesota State University 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 Southwest Minnesota State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, Southwest Minnesota 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 | |
|---|---|
| Southwest Minnesota State University | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
How many of the estimated 400 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 44% 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 Southwest Minnesota State University graduation rate 43%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 303 | 33% |
| Six Years | 400 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 12 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 515 | 56% |
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 515 students or 56% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 515 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
274 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 233 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 274 | 53.2% |
| Dropped Out | 233 | 45.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 33% |
| Black / African-American | 22% |
| Hispanic | 36% |
| International | 20% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 31% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 50% |
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 Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State University represent 58.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwest Minnesota State University graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 38% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
332 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
195 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 136 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.30% |
| Transferred | 195 | 58.73% |
| Dropped Out | 136 | 40.96% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwest Minnesota State University represent 1.62% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwest Minnesota State University graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 13% 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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
13 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 5 | 38.46% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 61.54% |
Returning / full-time students at Southwest Minnesota State University represent 18.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwest Minnesota State University graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 53% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
80 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.75% |
| Transferred | 39 | 48.75% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 47.50% |
Returning / part-time students at Southwest Minnesota State University represent 21.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwest Minnesota State University graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 45% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 52% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 37.80% |
90 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 51 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.44% |
| Transferred | 35 | 38.89% |
| Dropped Out | 51 | 56.67% |
