by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Bristol 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 Bristol. 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 54% students making it past their freshmen year, Bristol has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bristol | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
Of the 816 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 23% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% 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 Bristol graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 678 | 23% |
| Six Years | 816 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 46 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2037 | 70% |
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 2037 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2037 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
332 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 1622 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 332 | 16.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1622 | 79.6% |
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 Bristol 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 Bristol Community College represent 49.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bristol 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
983 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
49 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 754 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 49 | 4.98% |
| Transferred | 180 | 18.31% |
| Dropped Out | 754 | 76.70% |
First-time / part-time students at Bristol Community College represent 26.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bristol graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
609 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 545 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.79% |
| Transferred | 47 | 7.72% |
| Dropped Out | 545 | 89.49% |
Returning / full-time students at Bristol Community College represent 10.48% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bristol graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 38% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 55.07% |
185 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
60 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.78% |
| Transferred | 60 | 32.43% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 63.78% |
Returning / part-time students at Bristol Community College represent 12.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Bristol graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
260 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 205 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.85% |
| Transferred | 45 | 17.31% |
| Dropped Out | 205 | 78.85% |
