by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest 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 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Los Angeles Southwest College has freshmen retention rates below 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 | |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Southwest College | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 525 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 13% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 16% of the students had graduated and after eight years 18% 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 Los Angeles Southwest College graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 431 | 13% |
| Six Years | 525 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 69 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2653 | 82% |
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 2653 students or 82% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2653 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1073 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 1550 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1073 | 40.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1550 | 58.4% |
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 Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest College represent 9.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Los Angeles Southwest 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 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
209 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 156 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.96% |
| Transferred | 51 | 24.40% |
| Dropped Out | 156 | 74.64% |
First-time / part-time students at Los Angeles Southwest College represent 21.31% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Los Angeles Southwest College graduation rate was 17%, 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 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
558 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
140 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 410 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.43% |
| Transferred | 140 | 25.09% |
| Dropped Out | 410 | 73.48% |
Returning / full-time students at Los Angeles Southwest College represent 9.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Los Angeles Southwest College graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 24% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 55.07% |
231 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
106 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.43% |
| Transferred | 106 | 45.89% |
| Dropped Out | 124 | 53.68% |
Returning / part-time students at Los Angeles Southwest College represent 59.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Los Angeles Southwest 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 13% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
1655 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
776 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 860 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 776 | 46.89% |
| Dropped Out | 860 | 51.96% |
