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 55% students making it past their freshmen year, HACC 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 Pennsylvania, the average is 73.24%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| HACC | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Pennsylvania | 73.24% |
There were approximately 907 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 16% of the cohort graduated. After six years 20% had completed their degree, and 22% 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 HACC graduation rate 20%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 617 | 13% |
| Six Years | 907 | 20% |
| Eight Years | 116 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,604 | 78% |
Approximately 3604 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3604 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1027 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 2489 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1027 | 28.5% |
| Dropped Out | 2,489 | 69.1% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 HACC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Harrisburg Area Community College represent 31% of the students in the class of 2015, and 33.85% of HACC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the HACC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the HACC graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 22% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 47.82% |
1083 first-time / full-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
337 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 729 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 337 | 31.12% |
| Dropped Out | 729 | 67.31% |
First-time / part-time students at Harrisburg Area Community College represent 46.83% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the HACC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 14%.
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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
1854 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
58 are still enrolled.
393 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 1403 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 3.13% |
| Transferred | 393 | 21.20% |
| Dropped Out | 1,403 | 75.67% |
360 HACC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.74% 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 37%, 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 39%.
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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 37% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 55.07% |
217 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
111 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 104 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.92% |
| Transferred | 111 | 51.15% |
| Dropped Out | 104 | 47.93% |
689 HACC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.81% of the students in the class of 2015.
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.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
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 | HACC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
450 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
186 transferred to another institution.
HACC lost contact with the remaining 253 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 2.44% |
| Transferred | 186 | 41.33% |
| Dropped Out | 253 | 56.22% |
