by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CCAC first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore CCAC retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 57% students making it past their freshmen year, CCAC 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| CCAC | 57% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
Of the 1,610 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 16% of the cohort graduated. After six years 18% had completed their degree, and 20% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of CCAC is 18%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,263 | 14% |
| Six Years | 1,610 | 18% |
| Eight Years | 178 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 7,233 | 80% |
Approximately 7233 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7233 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2552 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 4413 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2552 | 35.3% |
| Dropped Out | 4,413 | 61.0% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 CCAC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Community College of Allegheny County represent 38% of the students in the class of 2015, and 41.93% of CCAC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the CCAC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the CCAC graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 20% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 47.82% |
2645 first-time / full-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
889 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 1627 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 889 | 33.61% |
| Dropped Out | 1,627 | 61.51% |
First-time / part-time students at Community College of Allegheny County represent 36.29% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the CCAC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 17%.
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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
2710 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
94 are still enrolled.
739 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 1877 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 94 | 3.47% |
| Transferred | 739 | 27.27% |
| Dropped Out | 1,877 | 69.26% |
984 CCAC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.90% 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 23%, 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 24%.
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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 23% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 55.07% |
744 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
382 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 334 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 3.76% |
| Transferred | 382 | 51.34% |
| Dropped Out | 334 | 44.89% |
1357 CCAC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.03% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 15%, 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 16%.
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 | CCAC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 37.80% |
1134 non first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
542 transferred to another institution.
CCAC lost contact with the remaining 575 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.50% |
| Transferred | 542 | 47.80% |
| Dropped Out | 575 | 50.71% |
