by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Mississippi State? 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 85% students making it past their freshmen year, Mississippi State 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 | |
|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 85% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
There were approximately 3,047 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
30% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 58% in six years, and 59% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of Mississippi State is 58%. 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 Mississippi State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.50 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,100 | 40% |
| Six Years | 3,047 | 58% |
| Eight Years | 77 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,156 | 41% |
Approximately 2156 students or 41% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2156 students who did not complete their degree?
24 are still enrolled.
305 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 1818 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 305 | 14.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1,818 | 84.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 64% |
| Black / African-American | 42% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 58% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 51% |
| Unknown | 60% |
| White | 72% |
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 Mississippi State 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 State University represent 55% of the students in the class of 2015, and 55.14% of Mississippi State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the Mississippi State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Mississippi State graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 47.82% |
1186 first-time / full-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
152 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 1013 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.02% |
| Transferred | 152 | 12.82% |
| Dropped Out | 1,013 | 85.41% |
First-time / part-time students at Mississippi State University represent 0.32% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 35%, first-time, part-time students in the Mississippi State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 41%.
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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 35% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 23.72% |
10 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.
0 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 100.00% |
1981 Mississippi State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 37.42% 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 62%, 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 63%.
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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
728 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
106 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 611 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.51% |
| Transferred | 106 | 14.56% |
| Dropped Out | 611 | 83.93% |
368 Mississippi State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.95% 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 37%.
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 | Mississippi State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
232 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi State lost contact with the remaining 184 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.43% |
| Transferred | 47 | 20.26% |
| Dropped Out | 184 | 79.31% |
