by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Harold Washington 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 Harold Washington College. 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 59% students making it past their freshmen year, Harold Washington 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Harold Washington College | 59% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
Of the 745 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 20% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 23% of the students had graduated and after eight years 24% 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 Harold Washington College graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 633 | 20% |
| Six Years | 745 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 32 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2466 | 76% |
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 2466 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2466 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
973 transferred to another institution.
Harold Washington College lost contact with the remaining 1459 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 973 | 39.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1459 | 59.2% |
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 Harold Washington 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 City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College represent 47.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Harold Washington College graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Harold Washington College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
1124 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
368 transferred to another institution.
Harold Washington College lost contact with the remaining 738 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.60% |
| Transferred | 368 | 32.74% |
| Dropped Out | 738 | 65.66% |
First-time / part-time students at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College represent 15.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Harold Washington College graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 12% 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 | Harold Washington College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
446 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
148 transferred to another institution.
Harold Washington College lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.90% |
| Transferred | 148 | 33.18% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 65.92% |
Returning / full-time students at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College represent 23.25% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Harold Washington College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | Harold Washington College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 55.07% |
541 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
295 transferred to another institution.
Harold Washington College lost contact with the remaining 240 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.11% |
| Transferred | 295 | 54.53% |
| Dropped Out | 240 | 44.36% |
Returning / part-time students at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College represent 13.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Harold Washington 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 | Harold Washington College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
355 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.
162 transferred to another institution.
Harold Washington College lost contact with the remaining 187 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.69% |
| Transferred | 162 | 45.63% |
| Dropped Out | 187 | 52.68% |
