DMACC Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Des Moines Area Community College 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at DMACC? 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.

• DMACC Retention Rate
• DMACC 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
• DMACC Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

DMACC Retention Rate

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

With 60% students making it past their freshmen year, DMACC 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.

DMACC Graduation Rates

Of the 1,955 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

After four years 21% of the cohort graduated. After six years 23% had completed their degree, and 25% after eight years.

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 DMACC graduation rate 23%.

DMACC Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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DMACC Drop Out Rate

Approximately 6322 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 6322 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 2026 transferred to another institution.

• DMACC lost contact with the remaining 4205 who we assumed dropped out.

DMACC 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 DMACC 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 DMACC Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Des Moines Area Community College represent 42% of the students in the class of 2015, and 44.96% of DMACC bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time students in the DMACC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the DMACC graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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.

DMACC First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time DMACC Drop Out Rates

2563 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 649 transferred to another institution.

• DMACC lost contact with the remaining 1875 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Des Moines Area Community College represent 26.30% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 6%, first-time, part-time students in the DMACC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 6%.

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 DMACC Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time DMACC Drop Out Rates

2065 first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 28 are still enrolled.

• 555 transferred to another institution.

• DMACC lost contact with the remaining 1482 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

1795 DMACC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.38% 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 44%, 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 46%.

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.

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

Non First-Time / Full-Time DMACC Drop Out Rates

970 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 13 are still enrolled.

• 496 transferred to another institution.

• DMACC lost contact with the remaining 461 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

900 DMACC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.72% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 18%, 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 20%.

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.

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

Non First-Time / Part-Time DMACC Drop Out Rates

724 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 11 are still enrolled.

• 326 transferred to another institution.

• DMACC lost contact with the remaining 387 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