by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Blue Ridge Community 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 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 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Blue Ridge Community College 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Community College | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 202 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, 48% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 College graduation rate 48%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 180 | 43% |
| Six Years | 202 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 207 | 49% |
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 207 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 207 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
11 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community College lost contact with the remaining 189 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 11 | 5.3% |
| Dropped Out | 189 | 91.3% |
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 Blue Ridge Community 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 College represent 46.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community College graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 53% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 47.82% |
92 first-time / full-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community College lost contact with the remaining 84 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 5.43% |
| Transferred | 3 | 3.26% |
| Dropped Out | 84 | 91.30% |
First-time / part-time students at Blue Ridge Community College represent 23.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community College graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 35% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 23.72% |
63 first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community College lost contact with the remaining 60 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 4.76% |
| Dropped Out | 60 | 95.24% |
Returning / full-time students at Blue Ridge Community College represent 19.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community College graduation rate was 57%, 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 | Blue Ridge Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
32 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community College lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.12% |
| Transferred | 4 | 12.50% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 84.38% |
Returning / part-time students at Blue Ridge Community College represent 9.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Blue Ridge Community College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
20 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
Blue Ridge Community College lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 5.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 5.00% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 90.00% |
