by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WMU 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 WMU. 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 81% students making it past their freshmen year, WMU 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WMU | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 3067 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 59% 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 WMU graduation rate 59%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2030 | 39% |
| Six Years | 3067 | 59% |
| Eight Years | 130 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1981 | 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 1981 students or 38% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1981 students who did not complete their degree?
24 are still enrolled.
1206 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 733 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.2% |
| Transferred | 1206 | 60.9% |
| Dropped Out | 733 | 37.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 30% |
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 44% |
| Hawaiian | 20% |
| Hispanic | 49% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 40% |
| Unknown | 45% |
| White | 62% |
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 WMU 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 Western Michigan University represent 57.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WMU graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 55% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
1258 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
813 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 420 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 1.99% |
| Transferred | 813 | 64.63% |
| Dropped Out | 420 | 33.39% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Michigan University represent 0.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WMU graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
40 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 27 | 67.50% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 32.50% |
Returning / full-time students at Western Michigan University represent 30.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WMU graduation rate was 69%, 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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 55.07% |
451 non first-time / part-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
248 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 197 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 248 | 54.99% |
| Dropped Out | 197 | 43.68% |
Returning / part-time students at Western Michigan University represent 11.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WMU graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 59% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
232 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
118 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 4.74% |
| Transferred | 118 | 50.86% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 44.40% |
