Cuesta College Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

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
• Cuesta College Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Cuesta College Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Cuesta College 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 Graduation Rates

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%.

Cuesta College Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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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?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 4128 transferred to another institution.

• Cuesta College lost contact with the remaining 4481 who we assumed dropped out.

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

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.

Cuesta College First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 255 transferred to another institution.

• Cuesta College lost contact with the remaining 304 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

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.

First-Time / Part-Time Cuesta College Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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:

• 16 are still enrolled.

• 180 transferred to another institution.

• Cuesta College lost contact with the remaining 472 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

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.

Cuesta College Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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:

• 44 are still enrolled.

• 1421 transferred to another institution.

• Cuesta College lost contact with the remaining 893 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

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.

Cuesta College Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

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:

• 149 are still enrolled.

• 2272 transferred to another institution.

• Cuesta College lost contact with the remaining 2812 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics