by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many FRCC 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 FRCC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 100% students making it past their freshmen year, FRCC 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| FRCC | 100% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
How many of the estimated 1880 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 25% 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 FRCC graduation rate 24%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1669 | 21% |
| Six Years | 1880 | 24% |
| Eight Years | 98 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 5790 | 75% |
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 5790 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5790 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2906 transferred to another institution.
FRCC lost contact with the remaining 2803 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2906 | 50.2% |
| Dropped Out | 2803 | 48.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 27% |
| Asian | 44% |
| Black / African-American | 15% |
| Hispanic | 25% |
| International | 15% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 23% |
| Unknown | 39% |
| White | 33% |
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 FRCC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Front Range Community College represent 17.39% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FRCC graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | FRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
864 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
395 transferred to another institution.
FRCC lost contact with the remaining 453 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 395 | 45.72% |
| Dropped Out | 453 | 52.43% |
First-time / part-time students at Front Range Community College represent 27.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FRCC graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | FRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
1676 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
556 transferred to another institution.
FRCC lost contact with the remaining 1088 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 1.91% |
| Transferred | 556 | 33.17% |
| Dropped Out | 1088 | 64.92% |
Returning / full-time students at Front Range Community College represent 15.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FRCC graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | FRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 39% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 55.07% |
713 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
397 transferred to another institution.
FRCC lost contact with the remaining 303 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 397 | 55.68% |
| Dropped Out | 303 | 42.50% |
Returning / part-time students at Front Range Community College represent 39.83% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the FRCC graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | FRCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 37.80% |
2537 non first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
1558 transferred to another institution.
FRCC lost contact with the remaining 959 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 0.79% |
| Transferred | 1558 | 61.41% |
| Dropped Out | 959 | 37.80% |
