by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Hawaii CC 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 59% students making it past their freshmen year, Hawaii CC 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 Hawaii, the average is 64.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Hawaii CC | 59% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Hawaii | 64.95% |
How many of the estimated 313 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 33% 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 Hawaii CC graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 279 | 29% |
| Six Years | 313 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 656 | 67% |
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 656 students or 67% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 656 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
284 transferred to another institution.
Hawaii CC lost contact with the remaining 354 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 284 | 43.3% |
| Dropped Out | 354 | 54.0% |
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 Hawaii CC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Hawaii Community College represent 40.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hawaii CC graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Hawaii CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 38% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
246 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
81 transferred to another institution.
Hawaii CC lost contact with the remaining 160 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.03% |
| Transferred | 81 | 32.93% |
| Dropped Out | 160 | 65.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Hawaii Community College represent 24.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hawaii CC graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | Hawaii CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
194 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
Hawaii CC lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 5.15% |
| Transferred | 44 | 22.68% |
| Dropped Out | 140 | 72.16% |
Returning / full-time students at Hawaii Community College represent 16.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hawaii CC graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Hawaii CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 45% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 55.07% |
84 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
Hawaii CC lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 68 | 80.95% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 17.86% |
Returning / part-time students at Hawaii Community College represent 18.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Hawaii CC graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | Hawaii CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
132 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
91 transferred to another institution.
Hawaii CC lost contact with the remaining 39 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 91 | 68.94% |
| Dropped Out | 39 | 29.55% |
