by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many AACC 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 AACC. 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 69% students making it past their freshmen year, AACC has freshmen retention rates near the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Maryland, the average is 71.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| AACC | 69% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maryland | 71.84% |
There were approximately 6054 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 39% of the students had graduated and after eight years 41% 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 AACC graduation rate 39%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5359 | 34% |
| Six Years | 6054 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 280 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 9242 | 59% |
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 9242 students or 59% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 9242 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
3981 transferred to another institution.
AACC lost contact with the remaining 4997 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 3981 | 43.1% |
| Dropped Out | 4997 | 54.1% |
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 AACC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Anne Arundel Community College represent 8.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AACC graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | AACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
795 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
370 transferred to another institution.
AACC lost contact with the remaining 397 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 3.52% |
| Transferred | 370 | 46.54% |
| Dropped Out | 397 | 49.94% |
First-time / part-time students at Anne Arundel Community College represent 7.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AACC graduation rate was 20%, 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 | AACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
876 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
281 transferred to another institution.
AACC lost contact with the remaining 565 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.42% |
| Transferred | 281 | 32.08% |
| Dropped Out | 565 | 64.50% |
Returning / full-time students at Anne Arundel Community College represent 19.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AACC graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | AACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
1377 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
757 transferred to another institution.
AACC lost contact with the remaining 595 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 757 | 54.97% |
| Dropped Out | 595 | 43.21% |
Returning / part-time students at Anne Arundel Community College represent 64.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the AACC graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | AACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
6194 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
181 are still enrolled.
2573 transferred to another institution.
AACC lost contact with the remaining 3440 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 181 | 2.92% |
| Transferred | 2573 | 41.54% |
| Dropped Out | 3440 | 55.54% |
