by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 64% students making it past their freshmen year, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Iowa Community Colleges | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
There were approximately 586 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 27% 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 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 517 | 21% |
| Six Years | 586 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,881 | 75% |
Approximately 1881 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1881 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
591 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges lost contact with the remaining 1253 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 591 | 31.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1,253 | 66.6% |
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 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 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 Eastern Iowa Community College District represent 45% of the students in the class of 2015, and 55.97% of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Eastern Iowa Community Colleges | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 47.82% |
778 first-time / full-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
220 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges lost contact with the remaining 541 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 220 | 28.28% |
| Dropped Out | 541 | 69.54% |
First-time / part-time students at Eastern Iowa Community College District represent 25.86% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 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 | Eastern Iowa Community Colleges | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
537 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
116 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges lost contact with the remaining 413 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.49% |
| Transferred | 116 | 21.60% |
| Dropped Out | 413 | 76.91% |
387 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.35% 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 23%, 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 24%.
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 | Eastern Iowa Community Colleges | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 23% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 55.07% |
296 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
130 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges lost contact with the remaining 163 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.01% |
| Transferred | 130 | 43.92% |
| Dropped Out | 163 | 55.07% |
346 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.72% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 21%, 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 21%.
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 | Eastern Iowa Community Colleges | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 21% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 37.80% |
270 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
125 transferred to another institution.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges lost contact with the remaining 136 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 3.33% |
| Transferred | 125 | 46.30% |
| Dropped Out | 136 | 50.37% |
