Graduation and Retention Rates
The success of our School is tied to the success of our students. Among the most critical measures of success are freshmen retention rates and timely graduation rates. We closely monitor progress against these measures.
Graduation and Retention Rates
The School of Media and Journalism actively tracks and reviews student enrollment data to ensure our students are on track to graduation. Graduation and retention rate data is provided by Institutional Research after the Fall semester census date, typically in early September. Rates are tracked accordingly:
- Retention Rates - Rates are based on the incoming fall cohort of full-time, first-time degree-seeking students. The percentages represent the proportion of the previous fall semester cohort who enrolled in the following fall semester.
- Graduation Rates - Rates are based on the incoming fall cohort of full-time, first-time degree-seeking students. Graduation rates are determined by the number of students in a cohort who earn a baccalaureate degree in four or six years.
You may view these rates for students enrolled in any Kent State University (KSU) major, any College of Communication and Information (CCI) major, and any School of Media and Journalism (MDJ) major below.
Any KSU Major
| Freshman Cohort | Cohort Enrollment | Retention Rates (After 1 Year) | Graduation Rates | |
| After 4 Years | After 6 Years | |||
| 2018F | 4363 | 81.2% | 48.7% | 63.7% |
| 2019F | 4270 | 81.6% | 49.5% | 64.7% |
| 2020F | 3819 | 80.5% | 48.2% | 59.8% |
| 2021F | 3982 | 78.5% | 48.2% | TBD |
| 2022F | 4251 | 79.7% | TBD | TBD |
| 2023F | 4226 | 81.9% | TBD | TBD |
| 2024F | 4252 | 79.8% | TBD | TBD |
| 2025F | 4023 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2026F | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Any CCI Major
| Freshman Cohort | Cohort Enrollment | Retention Rates (After 1 Year) | Graduation Rates | |
| After 4 Years | After 6 Years | |||
| 2018F | 285 | 84.6% | 53.5% | 65.4% |
| 2019F | 283 | 83.0% | 52.7% | 66.4% |
| 2020F | 220 | 82.3% | 53.2% | 60.4% |
| 2021F | 220 | 82.7% | 55.4% | TBD |
| 2022F | 219 | 83.6% | TBD | TBD |
| 2023F | 209 | 88.5% | TBD | TBD |
| 2024F | 210 | 86.2% | TBD | TBD |
| 2025F | 197 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2026F* | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
*Note - Effective Fall 2026, several programs have moved from the College of Communication and Information to other units on campus.
Any MDJ Major
| Freshman Cohort | Cohort Enrollment | Retention Rates (After 1 Year) | Graduation Rates | |
| After 4 Years | After 6 Years | |||
| 2018F | 143 | 83.9% | 51.0% | 63.6% |
| 2019F | 130 | 83.8% | 50.0% | 66.9% |
| 2020F | 98 | 83.7% | 53.0% | 59.0% |
| 2021F | 112 | 83.9% | 55.3% | TBD |
| 2022F | 92 | 81.5% | TBD | TBD |
| 2023F | 83 | 86.7% | TBD | TBD |
| 2024F | 97 | 82.5% | TBD | TBD |
| 2025F | 101 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2026F* | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
*Note - Effective Fall 2026, the Advertising program has moved to the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Helping Students Succeed
Students who make a successful transition to the college learning environment and develop solid support networks are more likely to persist and complete their degrees. The School of Media and Journalism is committed to providing students with the support systems necessary to stay in school, graduate on time and achieve their professional aspirations. For example:
- Professional academic advisors assist students with developing and achieving educational goals and aligning them with their professional goals. Each student works with an academic advisor to update their individualized academic plans at least once per semester.
- Scholarships and monetary awards. The School of Media and Journalism has remained committed to providing scholarships to returning and incoming students. Read more about the scholarships we offer.
Learn more about some of the other student resources offered by the School of Media and Journalism to help students succeed.
