by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Cerritos 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 Cerritos 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 67% students making it past their freshmen year, Cerritos 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Cerritos College | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 2146 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 Cerritos College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1807 | 23% |
| Six Years | 2146 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 207 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 5443 | 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 5443 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5443 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1962 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 3370 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1962 | 36.0% |
| Dropped Out | 3370 | 61.9% |
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 Cerritos College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Cerritos College represent 24.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cerritos College graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 47% 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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 39% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 47.82% |
1023 first-time / full-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
341 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 658 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.35% |
| Transferred | 341 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 658 | 64.32% |
First-time / part-time students at Cerritos College represent 30.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cerritos College graduation rate was 21%, 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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
1787 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
43 are still enrolled.
432 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 1312 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 43 | 2.41% |
| Transferred | 432 | 24.17% |
| Dropped Out | 1312 | 73.42% |
Returning / full-time students at Cerritos College represent 11.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cerritos College graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 38% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
522 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
261 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 251 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 261 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 251 | 48.08% |
Returning / part-time students at Cerritos College represent 33.48% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cerritos College graduation rate was 17%, 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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
2111 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
928 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 1149 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 928 | 43.96% |
| Dropped Out | 1149 | 54.43% |
