by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Howard County Junior 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 Howard County Junior College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 71% students making it past their freshmen year, Howard County Junior College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Howard County Junior College | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
Of the 348 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Howard County Junior College graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 313 | 28% |
| Six Years | 348 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 749 | 68% |
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 749 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 749 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
251 transferred to another institution.
Howard County Junior College lost contact with the remaining 494 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 251 | 33.5% |
| Dropped Out | 494 | 66.0% |
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 Howard County Junior 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 Howard College represent 37.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Howard County Junior College graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Howard County Junior College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
291 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
85 transferred to another institution.
Howard County Junior College lost contact with the remaining 204 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.69% |
| Transferred | 85 | 29.21% |
| Dropped Out | 204 | 70.10% |
First-time / part-time students at Howard College represent 23.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Howard County Junior College graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Howard County Junior College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
189 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
Howard County Junior College lost contact with the remaining 149 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.06% |
| Transferred | 38 | 20.11% |
| Dropped Out | 149 | 78.84% |
Returning / full-time students at Howard College represent 17.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Howard County Junior College graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | Howard County Junior College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
106 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
Howard County Junior College lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 42 | 39.62% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 60.38% |
Returning / part-time students at Howard College represent 21.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Howard County Junior College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Howard County Junior College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
163 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
86 transferred to another institution.
Howard County Junior College lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 86 | 52.76% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 47.24% |
