by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Essex first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Essex retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 51% students making it past their freshmen year, Essex 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 New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Essex | 51% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
How many of the estimated 855 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 12% of the cohort graduated. After six years 19% had completed their degree, and 21% 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 Essex graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 631 | 14% |
| Six Years | 855 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 84 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,480 | 79% |
Approximately 3480 students or 79% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3480 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1031 transferred to another institution.
Essex lost contact with the remaining 2373 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1031 | 29.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2,373 | 68.2% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Essex are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Essex County College represent 71% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.77% of Essex bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time students in the Essex class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Essex graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Essex | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 16% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 47.82% |
2564 first-time / full-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
674 transferred to another institution.
Essex lost contact with the remaining 1833 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 674 | 26.29% |
| Dropped Out | 1,833 | 71.49% |
First-time / part-time students at Essex County College represent 12.60% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the Essex class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 14%.
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 | Essex | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
481 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
142 transferred to another institution.
Essex lost contact with the remaining 330 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.87% |
| Transferred | 142 | 29.52% |
| Dropped Out | 330 | 68.61% |
465 Essex students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.52% 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 43%, 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 46%.
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 | Essex | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 55.07% |
251 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
125 transferred to another institution.
Essex lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 3.19% |
| Transferred | 125 | 49.80% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 47.01% |
268 Essex students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.06% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 28%, 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 31%.
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 | Essex | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
184 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
90 transferred to another institution.
Essex lost contact with the remaining 92 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 90 | 48.91% |
| Dropped Out | 92 | 50.00% |
