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MECC Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

38% 4-Year Graduation Rate
32% 6-Year Graduation Rate
58% Retention Rate

Mountain Empire Community College 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at MECC? 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.

MECC Retention Rate

58% Freshmen Retention Rate
Below Average Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 58% students making it past their freshmen year, MECC has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Virginia, the average is 69.66%.

MECC Retention  58 out of 100
0%
100%
Virginia Retention  70 out of 100
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100%
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Retention Rate
MECC58%
Nationwide70.57%
Virginia69.66%
Low retention rates may be a signal that a lot of students plan on transferring after a year or two. Is that the case here?

MECC Graduation Rates

32% 6-Year Graduation Rate
9.74% Transfer Rate
54.65% Dropout Rate

There were approximately 294 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 32% had completed their degree, and 34% after eight years.

The official graduation rate of MECC is 32%. 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  29%
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  32%
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  34%
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100%

MECC Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years27029%
Six Years29432%
Eight Years212%
Did Not Complete60966%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
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MECC Drop Out Rate

Approximately 609 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 609 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.0%
Transferred9014.8%
Dropped Out50582.9%

MECC Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.

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 MECC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?

First-Time / Full-Time MECC Graduation Rates

60% First-Time, Full-Time
40% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 60% of the students in the class of 2015, and 76.87% of MECC bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the MECC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the MECC graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  38 out of 100
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100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  40 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  42 out of 100
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100%

MECC First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsMECCNationwide
Four Years38%37.92%
Six Years40%46.43%
Eight Years42%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time MECC Drop Out Rates

322 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred4915.22%
Dropped Out26582.30%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

22% First-Time, Part-Time
11% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 21.97% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the MECC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  11 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  15 out of 100
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100%

First-Time / Part-Time MECC Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsMECCNationwide
Four Years8%14.37%
Six Years11%21.59%
Eight Years15%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time MECC Drop Out Rates

172 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled52.91%
Transferred2615.12%
Dropped Out14181.98%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

6% Returning, Full-Time
33% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

58 MECC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.28% 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 33%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  33 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  33 out of 100
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100%

MECC Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time CompletionsMECCNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years33%53.83%
Eight Years33%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time MECC Drop Out Rates

39 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled12.56%
Transferred717.95%
Dropped Out3179.49%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

11% Returning, Part-Time
25% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

104 MECC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.26% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 25%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 27%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  25 out of 100
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100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  27 out of 100
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100%

MECC Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time CompletionsMECCNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years25%36.03%
Eight Years27%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time MECC Drop Out Rates

76 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled00.00%
Transferred810.53%
Dropped Out6889.47%

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