by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Southwest Minnesota 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 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 396 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
27% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 48% in six years, and 50% in eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Southwest Minnesota State University graduation rate 48%.
The average length of time it takes an Southwest Minnesota State University undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.35 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 294 | 36% |
| Six Years | 396 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 12 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 409 | 50% |
Approximately 409 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 409 students who did not complete their degree?
12 are still enrolled.
227 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 174 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.9% |
| Transferred | 227 | 55.5% |
| Dropped Out | 174 | 42.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 11% |
| Hispanic | 28% |
| International | 58% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 21% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| 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 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 52% of the students in the class of 2015, and 48.74% of Southwest Minnesota State University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the Southwest Minnesota State University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Southwest Minnesota 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 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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 47.82% |
226 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
150 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 71 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 5.31% |
| Transferred | 150 | 66.37% |
| Dropped Out | 71 | 31.42% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwest Minnesota State University represent 0.98% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the Southwest Minnesota State University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 25%.
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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 16.67% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 83.33% |
242 Southwest Minnesota State University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 29.62% 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 59%, 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 59%.
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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
99 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 60 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.03% |
| Transferred | 36 | 36.36% |
| Dropped Out | 60 | 60.61% |
140 Southwest Minnesota State University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 44%.
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 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
78 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Minnesota State University lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 40 | 51.28% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 48.72% |
