by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WMU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore WMU retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 78% 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 | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 3,188 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 21% of the cohort graduated. After six years 55% had completed their degree, and 58% after 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 WMU graduation rate 55%.
The typical WMU student takes 4.64 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,957 | 34% |
| Six Years | 3,188 | 55% |
| Eight Years | 176 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,418 | 42% |
Approximately 2418 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2418 students who did not complete their degree?
41 are still enrolled.
1580 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 780 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 1580 | 65.3% |
| Dropped Out | 780 | 32.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 61% |
| Black / African-American | 38% |
| Hispanic | 53% |
| International | 66% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 43% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 61% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Western Michigan University represent 55% of the students in the class of 2015, and 50.31% of WMU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time students in the WMU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the WMU graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 50% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
1460 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
41 are still enrolled.
1017 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 406 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 2.81% |
| Transferred | 1017 | 69.66% |
| Dropped Out | 406 | 27.81% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Michigan University represent 0.78% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the WMU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
36 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.78% |
| Transferred | 22 | 61.11% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 36.11% |
2000 WMU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.54% 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 65%, 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 67%.
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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
654 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
413 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 228 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.99% |
| Transferred | 413 | 63.15% |
| Dropped Out | 228 | 34.86% |
551 WMU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.52% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 49%, 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 51%.
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 | WMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
268 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
128 transferred to another institution.
WMU lost contact with the remaining 133 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 128 | 47.76% |
| Dropped Out | 133 | 49.63% |
