by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Flathead Valley 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, Flathead Valley Community College 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 Montana, the average is 66.19%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Flathead Valley Community College | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Montana | 66.19% |
How many of the estimated 295 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 29% of the cohort graduated. After six years 29% had completed their degree, and 30% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Flathead Valley Community College graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 274 | 27% |
| Six Years | 295 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 718 | 70% |
Approximately 718 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 718 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
217 transferred to another institution.
Flathead Valley Community College lost contact with the remaining 480 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 217 | 30.2% |
| Dropped Out | 480 | 66.9% |
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 Flathead Valley Community College 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 Flathead Valley Community College represent 47% of the students in the class of 2015, and 52.20% of Flathead Valley Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time students in the Flathead Valley Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Flathead Valley Community College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | Flathead Valley Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
318 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
90 transferred to another institution.
Flathead Valley Community College lost contact with the remaining 217 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 90 | 28.30% |
| Dropped Out | 217 | 68.24% |
First-time / part-time students at Flathead Valley Community College represent 22.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the Flathead Valley Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 | Flathead Valley Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
196 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
Flathead Valley Community College lost contact with the remaining 143 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 4.08% |
| Transferred | 45 | 22.96% |
| Dropped Out | 143 | 72.96% |
157 Flathead Valley Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.33% 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 37%, 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 38%.
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 | Flathead Valley Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 37% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 55.07% |
98 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
Flathead Valley Community College lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 40 | 40.82% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 57.14% |
159 Flathead Valley Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.53% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 32%, 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 33%.
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 | Flathead Valley Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
106 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
Flathead Valley Community College lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 42 | 39.62% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 60.38% |
