by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many EMCC first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at EMCC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 66% students making it past their freshmen year, EMCC has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| EMCC | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
Of the 766 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 42% 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 EMCC graduation rate 42%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 708 | 39% |
| Six Years | 766 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 1071 | 58% |
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 1071 students or 58% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1071 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
493 transferred to another institution.
EMCC lost contact with the remaining 562 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 493 | 46.0% |
| Dropped Out | 562 | 52.5% |
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.
The majority of students at EMCC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at East Mississippi Community College represent 53.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the EMCC graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | EMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
515 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
207 transferred to another institution.
EMCC lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.52% |
| Transferred | 207 | 40.19% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 57.28% |
First-time / part-time students at East Mississippi Community College represent 1.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the EMCC graduation rate was 8%, and by the eight year mark, 8% 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 | EMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
EMCC lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 43.48% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 56.52% |
Returning / full-time students at East Mississippi Community College represent 29.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the EMCC graduation rate was 42%, 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 | EMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 55.07% |
310 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
166 transferred to another institution.
EMCC lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.97% |
| Transferred | 166 | 53.55% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 45.48% |
Returning / part-time students at East Mississippi Community College represent 15.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the EMCC graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | EMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 21% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 37.80% |
223 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
EMCC lost contact with the remaining 113 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 110 | 49.33% |
| Dropped Out | 113 | 50.67% |
