by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many BRCC first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore BRCC retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 58% students making it past their freshmen year, BRCC has freshmen retention rates similar to 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 | |
|---|---|
| BRCC | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 470 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
34% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 26% in six years, and 27% in eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official BRCC graduation rate 26%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 398 | 22% |
| Six Years | 470 | 26% |
| Eight Years | 17 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,293 | 73% |
Approximately 1293 students or 73% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1293 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
274 transferred to another institution.
BRCC lost contact with the remaining 993 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 274 | 21.2% |
| Dropped Out | 993 | 76.8% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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.
The majority of students at BRCC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Blue Ridge Community College represent 35% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.28% of BRCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 34%, first-time students in the BRCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the BRCC graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | BRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
376 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
77 transferred to another institution.
BRCC lost contact with the remaining 291 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 77 | 20.48% |
| Dropped Out | 291 | 77.39% |
First-time / part-time students at Blue Ridge Community College represent 24.89% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the BRCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | BRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
365 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
58 transferred to another institution.
BRCC lost contact with the remaining 292 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 4.11% |
| Transferred | 58 | 15.89% |
| Dropped Out | 292 | 80.00% |
343 BRCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.27% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 31%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | BRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 31% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
235 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
BRCC lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 67 | 28.51% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 71.49% |
372 BRCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.90% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 14%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | BRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 14% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
317 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
72 transferred to another institution.
BRCC lost contact with the remaining 242 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.95% |
| Transferred | 72 | 22.71% |
| Dropped Out | 242 | 76.34% |
