by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding De Anza College retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 76% students making it past their freshmen year, De Anza College has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| De Anza College | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 3653 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 De Anza College graduation rate 41%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3406 | 39% |
| Six Years | 3653 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 113 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 5037 | 57% |
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 5037 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5037 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1941 transferred to another institution.
De Anza College lost contact with the remaining 3045 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1941 | 38.5% |
| Dropped Out | 3045 | 60.5% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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 De Anza College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at De Anza College represent 34.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the De Anza College graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | De Anza College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 66% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 69% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 47.82% |
913 first-time / full-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
299 transferred to another institution.
De Anza College lost contact with the remaining 599 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.64% |
| Transferred | 299 | 32.75% |
| Dropped Out | 599 | 65.61% |
First-time / part-time students at De Anza College represent 23.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the De Anza College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | De Anza College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 34% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 23.72% |
1312 first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
271 transferred to another institution.
De Anza College lost contact with the remaining 1026 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.14% |
| Transferred | 271 | 20.66% |
| Dropped Out | 1026 | 78.20% |
Returning / full-time students at De Anza College represent 11.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the De Anza College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | De Anza College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 55.07% |
557 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
285 transferred to another institution.
De Anza College lost contact with the remaining 270 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.36% |
| Transferred | 285 | 51.17% |
| Dropped Out | 270 | 48.47% |
Returning / part-time students at De Anza College represent 30.96% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the De Anza College graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | De Anza College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
2255 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
1086 transferred to another institution.
De Anza College lost contact with the remaining 1150 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 0.84% |
| Transferred | 1086 | 48.16% |
| Dropped Out | 1150 | 51.00% |
