by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many El Camino College first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at El Camino College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, El Camino College 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| El Camino College | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 2579 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical El Camino College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2197 | 24% |
| Six Years | 2579 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 208 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 6500 | 70% |
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.
Approximately 6500 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6500 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2603 transferred to another institution.
El Camino College lost contact with the remaining 3728 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2603 | 40.0% |
| Dropped Out | 3728 | 57.4% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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.
A meaningful share of students at El Camino College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 El Camino Community College District represent 30.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Camino College graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | El Camino College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
1429 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
52 are still enrolled.
438 transferred to another institution.
El Camino College lost contact with the remaining 939 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 52 | 3.64% |
| Transferred | 438 | 30.65% |
| Dropped Out | 939 | 65.71% |
First-time / part-time students at El Camino Community College District represent 27.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Camino College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | El Camino College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
1935 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
58 are still enrolled.
479 transferred to another institution.
El Camino College lost contact with the remaining 1398 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 3.00% |
| Transferred | 479 | 24.75% |
| Dropped Out | 1398 | 72.25% |
Returning / full-time students at El Camino Community College District represent 8.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Camino College graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 31% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | El Camino College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
535 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
283 transferred to another institution.
El Camino College lost contact with the remaining 242 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.87% |
| Transferred | 283 | 52.90% |
| Dropped Out | 242 | 45.23% |
Returning / part-time students at El Camino Community College District represent 33.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Camino College graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 17% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | El Camino College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
2601 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
49 are still enrolled.
1403 transferred to another institution.
El Camino College lost contact with the remaining 1149 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 49 | 1.88% |
| Transferred | 1403 | 53.94% |
| Dropped Out | 1149 | 44.18% |
