by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding MSU retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 71% students making it past their freshmen year, MSU 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 North Dakota, the average is 67.00%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MSU | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Dakota | 67.00% |
There were approximately 381 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
16% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 40% in six years, and 42% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of MSU is 40%. 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 MSU undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.57 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 258 | 27% |
| Six Years | 381 | 40% |
| Eight Years | 18 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 545 | 58% |
Approximately 545 students or 58% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 545 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
245 transferred to another institution.
MSU lost contact with the remaining 290 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.6% |
| Transferred | 245 | 45.0% |
| Dropped Out | 290 | 53.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 25% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 78% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 36% |
| Unknown | 80% |
| White | 51% |
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 MSU 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 Minot State University represent 49% of the students in the class of 2015, and 43.31% of MSU bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the MSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the MSU graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | MSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
278 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
124 transferred to another institution.
MSU lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.08% |
| Transferred | 124 | 44.60% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 52.52% |
First-time / part-time students at Minot State University represent 3.80% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 8%, first-time, part-time students in the MSU class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 8%.
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 | MSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
33 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
MSU lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 36.36% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 63.64% |
318 MSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 33.54% 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 51%, 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 51%.
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 | MSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 51% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 55.07% |
155 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
76 transferred to another institution.
MSU lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.29% |
| Transferred | 76 | 49.03% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 49.68% |
134 MSU students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, 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 41%.
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 | MSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
79 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
33 transferred to another institution.
MSU lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 33 | 41.77% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 58.23% |
