by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Metro State after their first year? Are Metro State students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 66% students making it past their freshmen year, Metro State has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Metro State | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
There were approximately 1,683 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 11% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 54% of the students had graduated and after eight years 56% 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 Metro State graduation rate 54%.
The typical Metro State student takes 4.77 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,432 | 46% |
| Six Years | 1,683 | 54% |
| Eight Years | 85 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,363 | 44% |
Approximately 1363 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1363 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
556 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 760 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.1% |
| Transferred | 556 | 40.8% |
| Dropped Out | 760 | 55.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 45% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| International | 50% |
| White | 60% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Metro State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Metropolitan State University represent 2% of the students in the class of 2015, and 0.89% of Metro State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time students in the Metro State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Metro State graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
43 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 4.65% |
| Transferred | 26 | 60.47% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 34.88% |
First-time / part-time students at Metropolitan State University represent 1.09% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the Metro State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
29 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.45% |
| Transferred | 12 | 41.38% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 55.17% |
1151 Metro State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.76% 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 66%, 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 68%.
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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 66% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 55.07% |
374 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
165 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 202 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.87% |
| Transferred | 165 | 44.12% |
| Dropped Out | 202 | 54.01% |
1885 Metro State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 60.20% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 48%, 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 | Metro State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 48% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
917 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
37 are still enrolled.
353 transferred to another institution.
Metro State lost contact with the remaining 527 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 4.03% |
| Transferred | 353 | 38.50% |
| Dropped Out | 527 | 57.47% |
