by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Grand Rapids Community College 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 Grand Rapids Community College. 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 59% students making it past their freshmen year, Grand Rapids Community College 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Community College | 59% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
There were approximately 1147 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 22% of the students had graduated and after eight years 24% 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 Grand Rapids Community College graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 945 | 18% |
| Six Years | 1147 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 111 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4072 | 76% |
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 4072 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4072 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1427 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 2521 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1427 | 35.0% |
| Dropped Out | 2521 | 61.9% |
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 Grand Rapids Community College 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 Grand Rapids Community College represent 29.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Rapids Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 47.82% |
1115 first-time / full-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
42 are still enrolled.
384 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 689 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 42 | 3.77% |
| Transferred | 384 | 34.44% |
| Dropped Out | 689 | 61.79% |
First-time / part-time students at Grand Rapids Community College represent 33.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Rapids Community College graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
1500 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
48 are still enrolled.
327 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 1125 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 48 | 3.20% |
| Transferred | 327 | 21.80% |
| Dropped Out | 1125 | 75.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Grand Rapids Community College represent 13.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Rapids Community College 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
511 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
290 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 211 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 290 | 56.75% |
| Dropped Out | 211 | 41.29% |
Returning / part-time students at Grand Rapids Community College represent 23.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Grand Rapids Community College graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 23% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 37.80% |
946 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
426 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 496 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.54% |
| Transferred | 426 | 45.03% |
| Dropped Out | 496 | 52.43% |
