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Cuesta College Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

36% 4-Year Graduation Rate
28% 6-Year Graduation Rate
70% Retention Rate

Cuesta College 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at Cuesta College? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.

Cuesta College Retention Rate

70% Freshmen Retention Rate
Below Average Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Cuesta College 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 California, the average is 73.07%.

Cuesta College Retention  70 out of 100
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California Retention  73 out of 100
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Retention Rate
Cuesta College 70%
Nationwide 70.57%
California 73.07%
Low retention rates may be a signal that a lot of students plan on transferring after a year or two. Is that the case here?

Cuesta College Graduation Rates

28% 6-Year Graduation Rate
32.60% Transfer Rate
35.39% Dropout Rate

There were approximately 3,550 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

36% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 28% in six years, and 30% in eight years.

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 Cuesta College graduation rate 28%.

Four Year Graduation Rate  <nil>%
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Six Year Graduation Rate  28%
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  30%
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Cuesta College Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Completion Within Undergraduates Percentage
Four Years 0 %
Six Years 3,550 28%
Eight Years 275 2%
Did Not Complete 8,838 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.
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Cuesta College Drop Out Rate

Approximately 8838 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 8838 students who did not complete their degree?

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Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.0%
Transferred 4128 46.7%
Dropped Out 4,481 50.7%

Cuesta College Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Cuesta College 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 Cuesta College Graduation Rates

8% First-Time, Full-Time
43% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at Cuesta College represent 8% of the students in the class of 2015, and 12.56% of Cuesta College bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 36%, first-time students in the Cuesta College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Cuesta College graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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.

Four Year Graduation Rate  36 out of 100
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Six Year Graduation Rate  43 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  45 out of 100
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Cuesta College First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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First-Time / Full-Time Completions Cuesta College Nationwide
Four Years 36% 37.92%
Six Years 43% 46.43%
Eight Years 45% 47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time Cuesta College Drop Out Rates

579 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 0 0.00%
Transferred 255 44.04%
Dropped Out 304 52.50%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

6% First-Time, Part-Time
14% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at Cuesta College represent 6.34% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the Cuesta College 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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  14 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  17 out of 100
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First-Time / Part-Time Cuesta College Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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First-Time / Part-Time Completions Cuesta College Nationwide
Four Years 9% 14.37%
Six Years 14% 21.59%
Eight Years 17% 23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time Cuesta College Drop Out Rates

668 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 16 2.40%
Transferred 180 26.95%
Dropped Out 472 70.66%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

32% Returning, Full-Time
40% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

4093 Cuesta College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 32.32% 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 40%, 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 42%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  40 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  42 out of 100
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Cuesta College Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Full-Time Completions Cuesta College Nationwide
Four Years 0% 49.57%
Six Years 40% 53.83%
Eight Years 42% 55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Cuesta College Drop Out Rates

2358 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 44 1.87%
Transferred 1421 60.26%
Dropped Out 893 37.87%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

53% Returning, Part-Time
20% 6-Year Grad Rate
Average Grad Rate

6720 Cuesta College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 53.07% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 20%, 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 22%.

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.

Six Year Graduation Rate  20 out of 100
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Eight Year Graduation Rate  22 out of 100
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Cuesta College Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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Returning / Part-Time Completions Cuesta College Nationwide
Four Years 0% 30.46%
Six Years 20% 36.03%
Eight Years 22% 37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Cuesta College Drop Out Rates

5233 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

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Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions Undergraduates Percentage
Still Enrolled 149 2.85%
Transferred 2272 43.42%
Dropped Out 2,812 53.74%

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