by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding COD retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree 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 66% students making it past their freshmen year, COD has freshmen retention rates similar to 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 | |
|---|---|
| COD | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 1,667 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 22% of the students had graduated and after eight years 23% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official COD graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,425 | 19% |
| Six Years | 1,667 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 5,863 | 77% |
Approximately 5863 students or 77% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5863 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2611 transferred to another institution.
COD lost contact with the remaining 3127 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2611 | 44.5% |
| Dropped Out | 3,127 | 53.3% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 COD are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at College of DuPage represent 42% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.15% of COD bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 24%, first-time students in the COD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the COD graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 29% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | COD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
2291 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1036 transferred to another institution.
COD lost contact with the remaining 1200 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1036 | 45.22% |
| Dropped Out | 1,200 | 52.38% |
First-time / part-time students at College of DuPage represent 28.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 17%, first-time, part-time students in the COD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | COD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
1773 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
46 are still enrolled.
524 transferred to another institution.
COD lost contact with the remaining 1203 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 46 | 2.59% |
| Transferred | 524 | 29.55% |
| Dropped Out | 1,203 | 67.85% |
821 COD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.76% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 21%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 22%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | COD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 21% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 55.07% |
642 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
411 transferred to another institution.
COD lost contact with the remaining 223 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.25% |
| Transferred | 411 | 64.02% |
| Dropped Out | 223 | 34.74% |
1406 COD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.43% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 17%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | COD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 37.80% |
1157 non first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
640 transferred to another institution.
COD lost contact with the remaining 501 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.38% |
| Transferred | 640 | 55.32% |
| Dropped Out | 501 | 43.30% |
