by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding GCC 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, GCC 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| GCC | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1514 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed 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, 26% of the students had graduated and after eight years 28% 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 GCC graduation rate 26%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1252 | 21% |
| Six Years | 1514 | 26% |
| Eight Years | 104 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4230 | 72% |
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 4230 students or 72% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4230 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1722 transferred to another institution.
GCC lost contact with the remaining 2445 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1722 | 40.7% |
| Dropped Out | 2445 | 57.8% |
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 GCC 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 Glendale Community College represent 29.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GCC graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | GCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
870 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
271 transferred to another institution.
GCC lost contact with the remaining 589 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 271 | 31.15% |
| Dropped Out | 589 | 67.70% |
First-time / part-time students at Glendale Community College represent 28.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GCC 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 | GCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
1304 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
28 are still enrolled.
306 transferred to another institution.
GCC lost contact with the remaining 970 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 28 | 2.15% |
| Transferred | 306 | 23.47% |
| Dropped Out | 970 | 74.39% |
Returning / full-time students at Glendale Community College represent 10.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GCC graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | GCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 24% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 55.07% |
433 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
274 transferred to another institution.
GCC lost contact with the remaining 151 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 274 | 63.28% |
| Dropped Out | 151 | 34.87% |
Returning / part-time students at Glendale Community College represent 31.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GCC graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 12% 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 | GCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 11% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 37.80% |
1623 non first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
871 transferred to another institution.
GCC lost contact with the remaining 735 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.05% |
| Transferred | 871 | 53.67% |
| Dropped Out | 735 | 45.29% |
