by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MC first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore MC retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 80% students making it past their freshmen year, MC 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MC | 80% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
There were approximately 629 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 42% of the cohort graduated. After six years 54% had completed their degree, and 54% after eight years.
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 MC graduation rate 54%.
The typical MC student takes 4.24 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 510 | 44% |
| Six Years | 629 | 54% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 532 | 46% |
Approximately 532 students or 46% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 532 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
387 transferred to another institution.
MC lost contact with the remaining 136 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 387 | 72.7% |
| Dropped Out | 136 | 25.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 80% |
| Black / African-American | 49% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 31% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 29% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 71% |
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 MC 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 Mississippi College represent 43% of the students in the class of 2015, and 46.58% of MC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 42%, first-time students in the MC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the MC graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 60% 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 | MC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 59% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 60% | 47.82% |
202 first-time / full-time students or 40% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
183 transferred to another institution.
MC lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 183 | 90.59% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 8.42% |
First-time / part-time students at Mississippi College represent 2.48% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time, part-time students in the MC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
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 | MC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 31% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
20 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
MC lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 5.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 40.00% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 55.00% |
490 MC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 41.84% 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 56%, 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 57%.
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 | MC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
212 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
143 transferred to another institution.
MC lost contact with the remaining 65 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 143 | 67.45% |
| Dropped Out | 65 | 30.66% |
150 MC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.81% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
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 | MC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
98 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
MC lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 53 | 54.08% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 43.88% |
