by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding HACC 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 54% students making it past their freshmen year, HACC 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| HACC | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
How many of the estimated 1357 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 15% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 21% of the students had graduated and after eight years 22% 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 HACC graduation rate 21%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1000 | 15% |
| Six Years | 1357 | 21% |
| Eight Years | 90 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 5066 | 78% |
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 5066 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5066 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1832 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 3130 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1832 | 36.2% |
| Dropped Out | 3130 | 61.8% |
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 HACC 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 Harrisburg Area Community College represent 31.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HACC graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
1476 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
31 are still enrolled.
574 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 871 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 31 | 2.10% |
| Transferred | 574 | 38.89% |
| Dropped Out | 871 | 59.01% |
First-time / part-time students at Harrisburg Area Community College represent 39.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HACC graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
2168 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
49 are still enrolled.
611 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 1508 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 49 | 2.26% |
| Transferred | 611 | 28.18% |
| Dropped Out | 1508 | 69.56% |
Returning / full-time students at Harrisburg Area Community College represent 10.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HACC graduation rate was 28%, 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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
479 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
251 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 220 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 251 | 52.40% |
| Dropped Out | 220 | 45.93% |
Returning / part-time students at Harrisburg Area Community College represent 19.29% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HACC 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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 23% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 37.80% |
943 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
396 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 531 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.70% |
| Transferred | 396 | 41.99% |
| Dropped Out | 531 | 56.31% |
