by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at LTC? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, LTC 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 Wisconsin, the average is 74.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| LTC | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Wisconsin | 74.47% |
There were approximately 1,999 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 60% of the cohort graduated. After six years 67% had completed their degree, and 68% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official LTC graduation rate 67%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,867 | 63% |
| Six Years | 1,999 | 67% |
| Eight Years | 19 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 955 | 32% |
Approximately 955 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 955 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
325 transferred to another institution.
LTC lost contact with the remaining 573 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 325 | 34.0% |
| Dropped Out | 573 | 60.0% |
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.
The majority of students at LTC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Lakeshore Technical College represent 7% of the students in the class of 2015, and 6.45% of LTC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 60%, first-time students in the LTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the LTC graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 62% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | LTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 60% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 62% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 47.82% |
80 first-time / full-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
LTC lost contact with the remaining 33 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 44 | 55.00% |
| Dropped Out | 33 | 41.25% |
First-time / part-time students at Lakeshore Technical College represent 20.34% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 61%, first-time, part-time students in the LTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 62%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | LTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 49% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 61% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 62% | 23.72% |
228 first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
LTC lost contact with the remaining 144 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 6.58% |
| Transferred | 69 | 30.26% |
| Dropped Out | 144 | 63.16% |
409 LTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 76%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 77%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | LTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 76% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 77% | 55.07% |
95 non first-time / part-time students or 23% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
LTC lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 4.21% |
| Transferred | 27 | 28.42% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 67.37% |
1760 LTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 58.96% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 68%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 68%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | LTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 68% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 37.80% |
552 non first-time / part-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
35 are still enrolled.
185 transferred to another institution.
LTC lost contact with the remaining 332 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 35 | 6.34% |
| Transferred | 185 | 33.51% |
| Dropped Out | 332 | 60.14% |
