by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Blue Ridge Community and Technical 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 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 78% students making it past their freshmen year, Blue Ridge Community and Technical 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
How many of the estimated 406 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 39% of the students had graduated and after eight years 39% 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 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduation rate 39%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 389 | 37% |
| Six Years | 406 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 4 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 632 | 61% |
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 632 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 632 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College lost contact with the remaining 409 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 193 | 30.5% |
| Dropped Out | 409 | 64.7% |
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 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College 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 Blue Ridge Community and Technical College represent 33.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
201 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College lost contact with the remaining 139 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 4.98% |
| Transferred | 52 | 25.87% |
| Dropped Out | 139 | 69.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College represent 22.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
178 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College lost contact with the remaining 129 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 4.49% |
| Transferred | 41 | 23.03% |
| Dropped Out | 129 | 72.47% |
Returning / full-time students at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College represent 14.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
69 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
32 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College lost contact with the remaining 33 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 5.80% |
| Transferred | 32 | 46.38% |
| Dropped Out | 33 | 47.83% |
Returning / part-time students at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College represent 29.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 37.80% |
184 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College lost contact with the remaining 108 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 68 | 36.96% |
| Dropped Out | 108 | 58.70% |
