MSUM surpasses 2030 retention and graduation goals with record student success outcomes
Minnesota State Moorhead has achieved the highest first-year retention and four-year graduation rates in university history, exceeding key 2030 student success goals several years ahead of schedule.
The university’s first-time, full-time fall-to-fall retention rate increased to 80.7%, surpassing MSUM’s 2030 goal of 80% and setting a new institutional record. The previous record of 76.1% was established in fall 2019.
MSUM also achieved a record-high 46.5% four-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students, exceeding the university’s 2030 goal of 45%. This surpasses the previous institutional record of 42.2%, set last year. Among MSUM’s IPEDS peer institutions, approximately 74% of first year students are retained to their second year and 32% of students graduate within four years.
These outcomes reflect the collective efforts of faculty, staff, advisors, and success coaches across the university who work every day to help students persist and succeed.
Equity-focused gains continue
MSUM also saw continued improvement among student populations that have historically faced barriers to degree completion.
For first-year retention:
-
- First-generation student retention increased to
75.6%
-
- , exceeding the university’s 2030 goal and improving by 3.2 percentage points.
-
- Retention of students of color increased to
73.8%
-
- , exceeding the university’s 2030 goal by 4.8 percentage points and improving by 8.9 percentage points.
-
- Pell-eligible student retention increased to
75.8%
- , up 5.6 percentage points and exceeding the university’s 2026 goal.
Four-year graduation rates also reached record levels among these student groups:
-
- First-generation student graduation rose to
42.2%
-
- , an 8.3 percentage point increase.
-
- Student of color graduation increased to
36.4%
-
- , up 13.5 percentage points.
-
- Pell-eligible student graduation rose to
35.5%
- , up 4.6 percentage points.
These gains reflect sustained progress toward closing equity gaps and advancing the goals of Minnesota State’s Equity 2030 initiative.
Continuing work with transfer student success
While first-time student outcomes reached historic highs, transfer student retention declined this year and will remain an important focus moving forward. The retention subcommittee will examine transfer student experiences and outcomes to identify strategies that support student persistence and completion.
At the same time, transfer student graduation outcomes showed encouraging progress with a threefold increase in one-year graduation rates, demonstrating the impact of targeted efforts to support international and transfer learners.
Looking ahead
Although these results represent significant milestones, MSUM remains committed to continuously improving student success outcomes for all students. Faculty and staff are encouraged to explore the university’s retention and graduation rate dashboards to understand student outcomes better and identify opportunities to support student persistence and degree completion.