by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many UMSL 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 UMSL. 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, UMSL 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| UMSL | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
How many of the estimated 1491 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 51% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 60% of the students had graduated and after eight years 62% 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 UMSL graduation rate 60%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1254 | 51% |
| Six Years | 1491 | 60% |
| Eight Years | 50 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 939 | 38% |
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 939 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 939 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
515 transferred to another institution.
UMSL lost contact with the remaining 406 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 515 | 54.8% |
| Dropped Out | 406 | 43.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 62% |
| Black / African-American | 47% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 60% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| Unknown | 55% |
| White | 60% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at UMSL are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 University of Missouri-St Louis represent 17.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMSL graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | UMSL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 51% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
199 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
119 transferred to another institution.
UMSL lost contact with the remaining 74 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.02% |
| Transferred | 119 | 59.80% |
| Dropped Out | 74 | 37.19% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Missouri-St Louis represent 1.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMSL graduation rate was 10%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | UMSL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
UMSL lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 8.33% |
| Transferred | 11 | 45.83% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 45.83% |
Returning / full-time students at University of Missouri-St Louis represent 57.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMSL graduation rate was 70%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | UMSL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 55.07% |
412 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
210 transferred to another institution.
UMSL lost contact with the remaining 198 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.97% |
| Transferred | 210 | 50.97% |
| Dropped Out | 198 | 48.06% |
Returning / part-time students at University of Missouri-St Louis represent 23.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the UMSL graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | UMSL | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 45% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
304 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
175 transferred to another institution.
UMSL lost contact with the remaining 123 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 175 | 57.57% |
| Dropped Out | 123 | 40.46% |
