by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many BC3 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 BC3. 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, BC3 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| BC3 | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 454 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 BC3 graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 420 | 29% |
| Six Years | 454 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 983 | 68% |
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 983 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 983 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
581 transferred to another institution.
BC3 lost contact with the remaining 389 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 581 | 59.1% |
| Dropped Out | 389 | 39.6% |
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 BC3 are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Butler County Community College represent 45.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BC3 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | BC3 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 37% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
405 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
248 transferred to another institution.
BC3 lost contact with the remaining 154 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.74% |
| Transferred | 248 | 61.23% |
| Dropped Out | 154 | 38.02% |
First-time / part-time students at Butler County Community College represent 24.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BC3 graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | BC3 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
266 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
123 transferred to another institution.
BC3 lost contact with the remaining 139 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.50% |
| Transferred | 123 | 46.24% |
| Dropped Out | 139 | 52.26% |
Returning / full-time students at Butler County Community College represent 14.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BC3 graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | BC3 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
131 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
100 transferred to another institution.
BC3 lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.53% |
| Transferred | 100 | 76.34% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 22.14% |
Returning / part-time students at Butler County Community College represent 16.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the BC3 graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | BC3 | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
181 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
BC3 lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 110 | 60.77% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 37.02% |
