by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Erie Community College 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 Erie Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 56% students making it past their freshmen year, Erie 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Erie Community College | 56% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 1316 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Erie Community College graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1215 | 29% |
| Six Years | 1316 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 27 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2862 | 68% |
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 2862 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2862 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1064 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 1750 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1064 | 37.2% |
| Dropped Out | 1750 | 61.1% |
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 Erie Community College 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 Erie Community College represent 62.78% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Erie Community College graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 47.82% |
1822 first-time / full-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
36 are still enrolled.
613 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 1173 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 1.98% |
| Transferred | 613 | 33.64% |
| Dropped Out | 1173 | 64.38% |
First-time / part-time students at Erie Community College represent 8.39% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Erie Community College graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
289 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
84 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 202 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.04% |
| Transferred | 84 | 29.07% |
| Dropped Out | 202 | 69.90% |
Returning / full-time students at Erie Community College represent 22.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Erie Community College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 55.07% |
546 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
271 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 270 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.92% |
| Transferred | 271 | 49.63% |
| Dropped Out | 270 | 49.45% |
Returning / part-time students at Erie Community College represent 6.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Erie Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
205 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 105 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.95% |
| Transferred | 96 | 46.83% |
| Dropped Out | 105 | 51.22% |
