by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding HCC 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.
There were approximately 3407 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed 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 HCC graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3071 | 29% |
| Six Years | 3407 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 91 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 7064 | 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 7064 students or 67% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7064 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2911 transferred to another institution.
HCC lost contact with the remaining 4065 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2911 | 41.2% |
| Dropped Out | 4065 | 57.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 18% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 23% |
| Hawaiian | 29% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| International | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| Unknown | 49% |
| White | 37% |
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 HCC 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 Hillsborough Community College represent 38.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HCC graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | HCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
2565 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
36 are still enrolled.
957 transferred to another institution.
HCC lost contact with the remaining 1572 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 1.40% |
| Transferred | 957 | 37.31% |
| Dropped Out | 1572 | 61.29% |
First-time / part-time students at Hillsborough Community College represent 26.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HCC 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | HCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
2128 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
708 transferred to another institution.
HCC lost contact with the remaining 1390 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 1.41% |
| Transferred | 708 | 33.27% |
| Dropped Out | 1390 | 65.32% |
Returning / full-time students at Hillsborough Community College represent 15.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HCC graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | HCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 55.07% |
926 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
498 transferred to another institution.
HCC lost contact with the remaining 417 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 498 | 53.78% |
| Dropped Out | 417 | 45.03% |
Returning / part-time students at Hillsborough Community College represent 19.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the HCC graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | HCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
1445 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
748 transferred to another institution.
HCC lost contact with the remaining 686 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 748 | 51.76% |
| Dropped Out | 686 | 47.47% |
