How many California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 87% students making it past their freshmen year, California College of the Arts 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| California College of the Arts | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 326 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 66% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 73% of the students had graduated and after eight years 75% 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 California College of the Arts graduation rate 73%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 292 | 66% |
| Six Years | 326 | 73% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 113 | 25% |
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 113 students or 25% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 113 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
California College of the Arts lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 57 | 50.4% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 49.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 66% |
| Black / African-American | 54% |
| Hispanic | 60% |
| International | 65% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 58% |
| White | 52% |
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.
The majority of students at California College of the Arts are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at California College of the Arts represent 60.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the California College of the Arts graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 74% 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 | California College of the Arts | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 73% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
71 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
39 transferred to another institution.
California College of the Arts lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 39 | 54.93% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 45.07% |
At this time we lack data for this cohort at California College of the Arts.
Returning / full-time students at California College of the Arts represent 38.51% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the California College of the Arts graduation rate was 76%, and by the eight year mark, 77% 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 | California College of the Arts | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 76% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
40 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
California College of the Arts lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 42.50% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 57.50% |
Returning / part-time students at California College of the Arts represent 0.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the California College of the Arts graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | California College of the Arts | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 0% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
2 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1 transferred to another institution.
California College of the Arts lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 50.00% |