by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City 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 71% students making it past their freshmen year, Long Beach City 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Long Beach City College | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 2203 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 22% of the students had graduated and after eight years 25% 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 Long Beach City College graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1744 | 18% |
| Six Years | 2203 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 232 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 7473 | 75% |
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 7473 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7473 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2747 transferred to another institution.
Long Beach City College lost contact with the remaining 4492 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2747 | 36.8% |
| Dropped Out | 4492 | 60.1% |
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 Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College represent 29.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Long Beach City College graduation rate was 34%, 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 | Long Beach City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
1828 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
80 are still enrolled.
478 transferred to another institution.
Long Beach City College lost contact with the remaining 1270 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 80 | 4.38% |
| Transferred | 478 | 26.15% |
| Dropped Out | 1270 | 69.47% |
First-time / part-time students at Long Beach City College represent 25.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Long Beach City College graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | Long Beach City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
2082 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
80 are still enrolled.
477 transferred to another institution.
Long Beach City College lost contact with the remaining 1525 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 80 | 3.84% |
| Transferred | 477 | 22.91% |
| Dropped Out | 1525 | 73.25% |
Returning / full-time students at Long Beach City College represent 11.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Long Beach City 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Long Beach City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 29% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
771 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
374 transferred to another institution.
Long Beach City College lost contact with the remaining 375 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 2.85% |
| Transferred | 374 | 48.51% |
| Dropped Out | 375 | 48.64% |
Returning / part-time students at Long Beach City College represent 33.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Long Beach City College graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | Long Beach City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 14% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
2792 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
52 are still enrolled.
1418 transferred to another institution.
Long Beach City College lost contact with the remaining 1322 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 52 | 1.86% |
| Transferred | 1418 | 50.79% |
| Dropped Out | 1322 | 47.35% |
