by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CCAC 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 CCAC. 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, CCAC 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CCAC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 1626 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 25% of the students had graduated and after eight years 27% 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 CCAC graduation rate 25%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1169 | 18% |
| Six Years | 1626 | 25% |
| Eight Years | 93 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4693 | 73% |
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 4693 students or 73% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4693 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1663 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 2895 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1663 | 35.4% |
| Dropped Out | 2895 | 61.7% |
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 CCAC 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 Community College of Allegheny County represent 38.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CCAC graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
1670 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
55 are still enrolled.
610 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 1005 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 55 | 3.29% |
| Transferred | 610 | 36.53% |
| Dropped Out | 1005 | 60.18% |
First-time / part-time students at Community College of Allegheny County represent 41.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CCAC graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
2085 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
56 are still enrolled.
572 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 1457 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 56 | 2.69% |
| Transferred | 572 | 27.43% |
| Dropped Out | 1457 | 69.88% |
Returning / full-time students at Community College of Allegheny County represent 9.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CCAC graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
428 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
241 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 175 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.80% |
| Transferred | 241 | 56.31% |
| Dropped Out | 175 | 40.89% |
Returning / part-time students at Community College of Allegheny County represent 9.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CCAC graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 37.80% |
510 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
240 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 258 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.35% |
| Transferred | 240 | 47.06% |
| Dropped Out | 258 | 50.59% |
