by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Guilford 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 Guilford. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, Guilford 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Guilford | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 277 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 49% of the students had graduated and after eight years 49% 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 Guilford graduation rate 49%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 232 | 41% |
| Six Years | 277 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 286 | 51% |
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 286 students or 51% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 286 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
192 transferred to another institution.
Guilford lost contact with the remaining 92 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 192 | 67.1% |
| Dropped Out | 92 | 32.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 31% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 40% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 58% |
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.
The majority of students at Guilford are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Guilford College represent 75.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Guilford graduation rate was 49%, 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 | Guilford | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
215 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
161 transferred to another institution.
Guilford lost contact with the remaining 54 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 161 | 74.88% |
| Dropped Out | 54 | 25.12% |
First-time / part-time students at Guilford College represent 1.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Guilford graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | Guilford | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
Guilford lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 33.33% |
Returning / full-time students at Guilford College represent 17.35% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Guilford graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | Guilford | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
44 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
Guilford lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 4.55% |
| Transferred | 17 | 38.64% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 56.82% |
Returning / part-time students at Guilford College represent 5.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Guilford graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Guilford | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 34% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 37.80% |
21 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
Guilford lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 10 | 47.62% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 52.38% |
