Eastern Michigan University

What are the graduation rates for students at Eastern Michigan University?

EMU's reported six-year graduation rate is 46% for the measured cohort of first-time, full-time students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Its four-year rate is 24%. These measures follow entering cohorts over fixed periods; they do not represent the completion rate of every transfer, part-time, or graduate student.

The reported four-year rate has risen from 19% in the 2019 reporting series to 24% in the 2024-25 data. First-year retention is reported at 69%, measuring the share of the relevant entering group that returned the following fall. Retention and graduation answer different questions, and neither figure explains on its own why an individual student leaves, changes schools, or takes longer to finish.

For planning purposes, the gap between the four- and six-year figures makes course sequencing important. Students in majors with prerequisite chains, clinical placements, or limited course offerings should check a sample degree plan and ask how often required classes are offered.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Eastern Michigan University?

Field-of-study earnings figures for EMU are estimates of reported earnings one year after graduation, not starting-salary offers or promises to future students. In the College Scorecard figures identified for October 2026, the reported amount is $65,000 for registered nursing, $61,034 for computer and information sciences, $45,158 for accounting, and $38,257 for teacher education focused on specific levels and methods.

The figures describe graduates represented in the underlying federal earnings records for each field; they are not a survey of every EMU graduate. A field label may also cover more than one program or credential, so students should not treat a broad category as a precise forecast for a particular major. Work hours, further study, geography, occupation, and the stage of professional licensure can all affect earnings a year after completion.

These statistics are most useful for comparing broad patterns while also examining program cost, debt, placement requirements, and longer-term career options. A higher one-year figure does not, by itself, establish a better educational return for every student.