by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Minnesota West after their first year? Are Minnesota West students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 55% students making it past their freshmen year, Minnesota West 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 | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota West | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
There were approximately 457 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 52% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% of this class completed their degree.
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 Minnesota West graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 443 | 49% |
| Six Years | 457 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 448 | 49% |
Approximately 448 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 448 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
164 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 279 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 164 | 36.6% |
| Dropped Out | 279 | 62.3% |
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 Minnesota West 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 Minnesota West Community and Technical College represent 38% of the students in the class of 2015, and 40.26% of Minnesota West bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 52%, first-time students in the Minnesota West class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Minnesota West graduation rate was 53%, 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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
160 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 113 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 46 | 28.75% |
| Dropped Out | 113 | 70.63% |
First-time / part-time students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College represent 13.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time, part-time students in the Minnesota West class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
74 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.70% |
| Transferred | 25 | 33.78% |
| Dropped Out | 47 | 63.51% |
256 Minnesota West students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.07% 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 58%, 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 59%.
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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
105 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 58 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.95% |
| Transferred | 46 | 43.81% |
| Dropped Out | 58 | 55.24% |
189 Minnesota West students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.72% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 42%.
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 | Minnesota West | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
109 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
Minnesota West lost contact with the remaining 61 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.92% |
| Transferred | 47 | 43.12% |
| Dropped Out | 61 | 55.96% |
