by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Forsyth Tech 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 73% students making it past their freshmen year, Forsyth Tech has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| Forsyth Tech | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 898 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 35% 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 Forsyth Tech graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 776 | 28% |
| Six Years | 898 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1809 | 65% |
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 1809 students or 65% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1809 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
651 transferred to another institution.
Forsyth Tech lost contact with the remaining 1105 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 651 | 36.0% |
| Dropped Out | 1105 | 61.1% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Forsyth Tech are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Forsyth Technical Community College represent 30.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Forsyth Tech graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Forsyth Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
516 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
162 transferred to another institution.
Forsyth Tech lost contact with the remaining 341 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.52% |
| Transferred | 162 | 31.40% |
| Dropped Out | 341 | 66.09% |
First-time / part-time students at Forsyth Technical Community College represent 22.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Forsyth Tech graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Forsyth Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
458 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
Forsyth Tech lost contact with the remaining 338 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 3.93% |
| Transferred | 102 | 22.27% |
| Dropped Out | 338 | 73.80% |
Returning / full-time students at Forsyth Technical Community College represent 21.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Forsyth Tech graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Forsyth Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
375 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
177 transferred to another institution.
Forsyth Tech lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 3.47% |
| Transferred | 177 | 47.20% |
| Dropped Out | 185 | 49.33% |
Returning / part-time students at Forsyth Technical Community College represent 26.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Forsyth Tech graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | Forsyth Tech | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
460 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
210 transferred to another institution.
Forsyth Tech lost contact with the remaining 241 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 210 | 45.65% |
| Dropped Out | 241 | 52.39% |
