by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Highland Community College 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 Highland Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 40% students making it past their freshmen year, Highland Community College 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 Kansas, the average is 65.77%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Highland Community College | 40% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kansas | 65.77% |
Of the 828 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 27% of the students had graduated and after eight years 29% 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 Highland Community College graduation rate 27%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 766 | 25% |
| Six Years | 828 | 27% |
| Eight Years | 47 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2163 | 71% |
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 2163 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2163 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1678 transferred to another institution.
Highland Community College lost contact with the remaining 485 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1678 | 77.6% |
| Dropped Out | 485 | 22.4% |
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 Highland Community College 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 Highland Community College represent 36.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Highland Community College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | Highland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
714 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
577 transferred to another institution.
Highland Community College lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 577 | 80.81% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 19.19% |
First-time / part-time students at Highland Community College represent 23.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Highland Community College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Highland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
560 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
407 transferred to another institution.
Highland Community College lost contact with the remaining 153 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 407 | 72.68% |
| Dropped Out | 153 | 27.32% |
Returning / full-time students at Highland Community College represent 11.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Highland Community College graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | Highland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 37% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 55.07% |
210 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
146 transferred to another institution.
Highland Community College lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 146 | 69.52% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 30.48% |
Returning / part-time students at Highland Community College represent 28.64% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Highland Community College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Highland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 21% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
679 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
548 transferred to another institution.
Highland Community College lost contact with the remaining 131 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 548 | 80.71% |
| Dropped Out | 131 | 19.29% |
