by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Pinal County 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 Pinal County 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 61% students making it past their freshmen year, Pinal County Community College 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 Arizona, the average is 67.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Pinal County Community College | 61% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arizona | 67.94% |
Of the 481 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 11% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 13% of the students had graduated and after eight years 14% 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 Pinal County Community College graduation rate 13%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 389 | 11% |
| Six Years | 481 | 13% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3137 | 86% |
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 3137 students or 86% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3137 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
850 transferred to another institution.
Pinal County Community College lost contact with the remaining 2250 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 850 | 27.1% |
| Dropped Out | 2250 | 71.7% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Pinal County Community College 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 Central Arizona College represent 23.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pinal County Community College 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Pinal County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 24% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 47.82% |
635 first-time / full-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
209 transferred to another institution.
Pinal County Community College lost contact with the remaining 421 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.79% |
| Transferred | 209 | 32.91% |
| Dropped Out | 421 | 66.30% |
First-time / part-time students at Central Arizona College represent 58.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pinal County Community College graduation rate was 7%, and by the eight year mark, 8% 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 | Pinal County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
1966 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
334 transferred to another institution.
Pinal County Community College lost contact with the remaining 1608 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 334 | 16.99% |
| Dropped Out | 1608 | 81.79% |
Returning / full-time students at Central Arizona College represent 6.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pinal County Community College graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | Pinal County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 23% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 55.07% |
183 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
117 transferred to another institution.
Pinal County Community College lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 117 | 63.93% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 34.97% |
Returning / part-time students at Central Arizona College represent 11.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pinal County Community College graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | Pinal County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
353 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
190 transferred to another institution.
Pinal County Community College lost contact with the remaining 157 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.70% |
| Transferred | 190 | 53.82% |
| Dropped Out | 157 | 44.48% |
