by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many GTC first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore GTC retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 57% students making it past their freshmen year, GTC has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| GTC | 57% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
How many of the estimated 1,176 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 28% of the cohort graduated. After six years 31% had completed their degree, and 32% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official GTC graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,026 | 27% |
| Six Years | 1,176 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 34 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,592 | 68% |
Approximately 2592 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2592 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1140 transferred to another institution.
GTC lost contact with the remaining 1393 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1140 | 44.0% |
| Dropped Out | 1,393 | 53.7% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 GTC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Gwinnett Technical College represent 28% of the students in the class of 2015, and 28.83% of GTC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time students in the GTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the GTC graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 33% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | GTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
715 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
310 transferred to another institution.
GTC lost contact with the remaining 387 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 310 | 43.36% |
| Dropped Out | 387 | 54.13% |
First-time / part-time students at Gwinnett Technical College represent 50.03% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time, part-time students in the GTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | GTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
1303 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
35 are still enrolled.
490 transferred to another institution.
GTC lost contact with the remaining 778 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 35 | 2.69% |
| Transferred | 490 | 37.61% |
| Dropped Out | 778 | 59.71% |
267 GTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.02% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 31%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 32%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | GTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 31% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
182 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
109 transferred to another institution.
GTC lost contact with the remaining 71 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.10% |
| Transferred | 109 | 59.89% |
| Dropped Out | 71 | 39.01% |
571 GTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.02% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 30%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | GTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
392 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
231 transferred to another institution.
GTC lost contact with the remaining 157 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.02% |
| Transferred | 231 | 58.93% |
| Dropped Out | 157 | 40.05% |
