by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many FTCC 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 FTCC. 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 58% students making it past their freshmen year, FTCC 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| FTCC | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 1462 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 24% of the students had graduated and after eight years 26% 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 FTCC graduation rate 24%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1271 | 21% |
| Six Years | 1462 | 24% |
| Eight Years | 104 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4499 | 74% |
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 4499 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4499 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1850 transferred to another institution.
FTCC lost contact with the remaining 2576 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1850 | 41.1% |
| Dropped Out | 2576 | 57.3% |
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 FTCC 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 Fayetteville Technical Community College represent 24.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FTCC graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | FTCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 21% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 47.82% |
1141 first-time / full-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
295 transferred to another institution.
FTCC lost contact with the remaining 832 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.23% |
| Transferred | 295 | 25.85% |
| Dropped Out | 832 | 72.92% |
First-time / part-time students at Fayetteville Technical Community College represent 22.69% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FTCC graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | FTCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
1111 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
154 transferred to another institution.
FTCC lost contact with the remaining 934 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.07% |
| Transferred | 154 | 13.86% |
| Dropped Out | 934 | 84.07% |
Returning / full-time students at Fayetteville Technical Community College represent 18.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FTCC graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | FTCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
762 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
432 transferred to another institution.
FTCC lost contact with the remaining 314 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.10% |
| Transferred | 432 | 56.69% |
| Dropped Out | 314 | 41.21% |
Returning / part-time students at Fayetteville Technical Community College represent 34.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FTCC graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | FTCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
1485 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
969 transferred to another institution.
FTCC lost contact with the remaining 496 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.35% |
| Transferred | 969 | 65.25% |
| Dropped Out | 496 | 33.40% |
