by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Marshall University? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, Marshall 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Marshall University | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
How many of the estimated 1,488 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 49% of the students had graduated and after eight years 52% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of Marshall University is 49%. 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 average length of time it takes an Marshall University undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.55 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 993 | 32% |
| Six Years | 1,488 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 90 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,483 | 48% |
Approximately 1483 students or 48% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1483 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
812 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 636 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 812 | 54.8% |
| Dropped Out | 636 | 42.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 54% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 54% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 51% |
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 Marshall University 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 Marshall University represent 67% of the students in the class of 2015, and 68.21% of Marshall University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time students in the Marshall University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Marshall University graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 47.82% |
986 first-time / full-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
568 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 393 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 568 | 57.61% |
| Dropped Out | 393 | 39.86% |
First-time / part-time students at Marshall University represent 0.62% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Marshall 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 21%.
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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
15 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 6.67% |
| Transferred | 3 | 20.00% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 73.33% |
841 Marshall University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 27.39% 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 50%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 52%.
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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
398 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
210 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 183 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.26% |
| Transferred | 210 | 52.76% |
| Dropped Out | 183 | 45.98% |
140 Marshall University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, 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 40%.
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 | Marshall University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
84 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Marshall University lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.76% |
| Transferred | 31 | 36.90% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 58.33% |
