by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many LMU first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore LMU 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, LMU 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| LMU | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 370 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 34% of the cohort graduated. After six years 56% had completed their degree, and 58% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of LMU is 56%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The typical LMU student takes 4.20 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 320 | 48% |
| Six Years | 370 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 13 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 282 | 42% |
Approximately 282 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 282 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
244 transferred to another institution.
LMU lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 244 | 86.5% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 12.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 100% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Unknown | 47% |
| White | 54% |
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 LMU 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 Lincoln Memorial University represent 48% of the students in the class of 2015, and 38.65% of LMU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 34%, first-time students in the LMU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the LMU 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 | LMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 47.82% |
170 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
148 transferred to another institution.
LMU lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 148 | 87.06% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 12.35% |
First-time / part-time students at Lincoln Memorial University represent 1.65% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 45%, first-time, part-time students in the LMU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.
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 | LMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 45% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
LMU lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 5 | 83.33% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 16.67% |
190 LMU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.57% 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 67%, 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 69%.
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 | LMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
59 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
LMU lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.39% |
| Transferred | 50 | 84.75% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 11.86% |
146 LMU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.95% of the students in the class of 2015.
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.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 68%.
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 | LMU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 65% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 37.80% |
47 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
LMU lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 41 | 87.23% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 12.77% |
