by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding El Paso Community 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, El Paso Community College 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| El Paso Community College | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 2126 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 23% of the students had graduated and after eight years 25% 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 El Paso Community College graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1697 | 18% |
| Six Years | 2126 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 156 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 7004 | 75% |
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 7004 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7004 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1950 transferred to another institution.
El Paso Community College lost contact with the remaining 4833 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1950 | 27.8% |
| Dropped Out | 4833 | 69.0% |
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 El Paso Community 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 El Paso Community College represent 32.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Paso Community College graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | El Paso Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
2018 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
73 are still enrolled.
553 transferred to another institution.
El Paso Community College lost contact with the remaining 1392 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 73 | 3.62% |
| Transferred | 553 | 27.40% |
| Dropped Out | 1392 | 68.98% |
First-time / part-time students at El Paso Community College represent 34.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Paso Community College graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | El Paso Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
2540 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
99 are still enrolled.
491 transferred to another institution.
El Paso Community College lost contact with the remaining 1950 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 99 | 3.90% |
| Transferred | 491 | 19.33% |
| Dropped Out | 1950 | 76.77% |
Returning / full-time students at El Paso Community College represent 10.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Paso Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | El Paso Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 55.07% |
696 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
282 transferred to another institution.
El Paso Community College lost contact with the remaining 404 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.44% |
| Transferred | 282 | 40.52% |
| Dropped Out | 404 | 58.05% |
Returning / part-time students at El Paso Community College represent 22.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the El Paso Community 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 | El Paso Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
1750 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
39 are still enrolled.
624 transferred to another institution.
El Paso Community College lost contact with the remaining 1087 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 39 | 2.23% |
| Transferred | 624 | 35.66% |
| Dropped Out | 1087 | 62.11% |
