by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Houston 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 Houston Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
We don’t have retention rate data for Houston Community College.
Of the 3805 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 15% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 19% of the students had graduated and after eight years 20% 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 Houston Community College graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3004 | 15% |
| Six Years | 3805 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 325 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 16270 | 80% |
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 16270 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 16270 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
7140 transferred to another institution.
Houston Community College lost contact with the remaining 8609 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 7140 | 43.9% |
| Dropped Out | 8609 | 52.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 18% |
| Black / African-American | 12% |
| Hispanic | 18% |
| International | 24% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 18% |
| Unknown | 14% |
| White | 12% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Houston Community College 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 Houston Community College represent 24.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Houston Community College graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Houston Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
3358 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
136 are still enrolled.
1203 transferred to another institution.
Houston Community College lost contact with the remaining 2019 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 136 | 4.05% |
| Transferred | 1203 | 35.82% |
| Dropped Out | 2019 | 60.13% |
First-time / part-time students at Houston Community College represent 32.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Houston Community College graduation rate was 13%, 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 | Houston Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
5586 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
228 are still enrolled.
1702 transferred to another institution.
Houston Community College lost contact with the remaining 3656 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 228 | 4.08% |
| Transferred | 1702 | 30.47% |
| Dropped Out | 3656 | 65.45% |
Returning / full-time students at Houston Community College represent 13.21% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Houston Community College 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 | Houston Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
1917 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
53 are still enrolled.
948 transferred to another institution.
Houston Community College lost contact with the remaining 916 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 53 | 2.76% |
| Transferred | 948 | 49.45% |
| Dropped Out | 916 | 47.78% |
Returning / part-time students at Houston Community College represent 30.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Houston Community College graduation rate was 12%, and by the eight year mark, 13% 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 | Houston Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 12% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 37.80% |
5409 non first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
104 are still enrolled.
3287 transferred to another institution.
Houston Community College lost contact with the remaining 2018 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 104 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 3287 | 60.77% |
| Dropped Out | 2018 | 37.31% |
