by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WCC 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 WCC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 73% students making it past their freshmen year, WCC 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WCC | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
There were approximately 315 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 43% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 45% of the students had graduated and after eight years 45% 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 WCC graduation rate 45%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 303 | 43% |
| Six Years | 315 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 384 | 55% |
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 384 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 384 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
63 transferred to another institution.
WCC lost contact with the remaining 315 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 63 | 16.4% |
| Dropped Out | 315 | 82.0% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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 WCC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Wytheville Community College represent 49.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCC graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | WCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 53% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
157 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
WCC lost contact with the remaining 128 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.91% |
| Transferred | 26 | 16.56% |
| Dropped Out | 128 | 81.53% |
First-time / part-time students at Wytheville Community College represent 21.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCC graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | WCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
107 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
WCC lost contact with the remaining 89 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.87% |
| Transferred | 16 | 14.95% |
| Dropped Out | 89 | 83.18% |
Returning / full-time students at Wytheville Community College represent 10.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCC graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | WCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 61% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
29 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
WCC lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 10.34% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 89.66% |
Returning / part-time students at Wytheville Community College represent 19.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCC graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | WCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
91 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
WCC lost contact with the remaining 72 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.10% |
| Transferred | 18 | 19.78% |
| Dropped Out | 72 | 79.12% |
