by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CNM 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 CNM. 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 60% students making it past their freshmen year, CNM 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 New Mexico, the average is 62.90%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CNM | 60% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Mexico | 62.90% |
How many of the estimated 2450 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% 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 CNM graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1936 | 25% |
| Six Years | 2450 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 208 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 5120 | 66% |
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 5120 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5120 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2640 transferred to another institution.
CNM lost contact with the remaining 2302 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2640 | 51.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2302 | 45.0% |
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 CNM 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 Central New Mexico Community College represent 36.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CNM graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | CNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
1646 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
71 are still enrolled.
646 transferred to another institution.
CNM lost contact with the remaining 929 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 71 | 4.31% |
| Transferred | 646 | 39.25% |
| Dropped Out | 929 | 56.44% |
First-time / part-time students at Central New Mexico Community College represent 42.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CNM graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | CNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
2534 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
84 are still enrolled.
1202 transferred to another institution.
CNM lost contact with the remaining 1248 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 84 | 3.31% |
| Transferred | 1202 | 47.43% |
| Dropped Out | 1248 | 49.25% |
Returning / full-time students at Central New Mexico Community College represent 7.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CNM graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | CNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
262 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
215 transferred to another institution.
CNM lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 4.58% |
| Transferred | 215 | 82.06% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 13.36% |
Returning / part-time students at Central New Mexico Community College represent 13.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CNM graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | CNM | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 33% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
678 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
577 transferred to another institution.
CNM lost contact with the remaining 90 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.62% |
| Transferred | 577 | 85.10% |
| Dropped Out | 90 | 13.27% |
