by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to DSCC after their first year? Are DSCC students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 54% students making it past their freshmen year, DSCC 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DSCC | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
Of the 270 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
15% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 17% in six years, and 18% 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 DSCC graduation rate 17%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 217 | 14% |
| Six Years | 270 | 17% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,287 | 82% |
Approximately 1287 students or 82% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1287 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
134 transferred to another institution.
DSCC lost contact with the remaining 1137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 134 | 10.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1,137 | 88.3% |
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.
The majority of students at DSCC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Dyersburg State Community College represent 50% of the students in the class of 2015, and 54.81% of DSCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time students in the DSCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the DSCC graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | DSCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 19% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 47.82% |
636 first-time / full-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
62 transferred to another institution.
DSCC lost contact with the remaining 565 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 62 | 9.75% |
| Dropped Out | 565 | 88.84% |
First-time / part-time students at Dyersburg State Community College represent 24.43% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 7%, first-time, part-time students in the DSCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 8%.
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 | DSCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
353 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
DSCC lost contact with the remaining 327 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.85% |
| Transferred | 23 | 6.52% |
| Dropped Out | 327 | 92.63% |
200 DSCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.76% 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 27%, 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 27%.
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 | DSCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 55.07% |
146 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
DSCC lost contact with the remaining 125 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 14.38% |
| Dropped Out | 125 | 85.62% |
197 DSCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 22%, 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 23%.
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 | DSCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
152 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
DSCC lost contact with the remaining 120 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 28 | 18.42% |
| Dropped Out | 120 | 78.95% |
