by our College Data Analytics TeamHow 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.
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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Cuesta College | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
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%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0 | |
| Six Years | 3,550 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 275 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 8,838 | 70% |
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.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 4128 | 46.7% |
| Dropped Out | 4,481 | 50.7% |
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 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Cuesta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
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 / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 255 | 44.04% |
| Dropped Out | 304 | 52.50% |
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 Completions | Cuesta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
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.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.40% |
| Transferred | 180 | 26.95% |
| Dropped Out | 472 | 70.66% |
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Cuesta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 40% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 55.07% |
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.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 44 | 1.87% |
| Transferred | 1421 | 60.26% |
| Dropped Out | 893 | 37.87% |
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Cuesta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 149 | 2.85% |
| Transferred | 2272 | 43.42% |
| Dropped Out | 2,812 | 53.74% |
