by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding LCC retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| LCC | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 1,827 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 29% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 43% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 LCC graduation rate 43%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,762 | 41% |
| Six Years | 1,827 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 27 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,434 | 57% |
Approximately 2434 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2434 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
816 transferred to another institution.
LCC lost contact with the remaining 1551 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 816 | 33.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1,551 | 63.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 8% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 29% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 30% |
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 LCC 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 Lower Columbia College represent 20% of the students in the class of 2015, and 15.00% of LCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 29%, first-time students in the LCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the LCC graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | LCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
590 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
197 transferred to another institution.
LCC lost contact with the remaining 380 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 197 | 33.39% |
| Dropped Out | 380 | 64.41% |
First-time / part-time students at Lower Columbia College represent 9.63% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time, part-time students in the LCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
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 | LCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 28% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
294 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
LCC lost contact with the remaining 179 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.72% |
| Transferred | 107 | 36.39% |
| Dropped Out | 179 | 60.88% |
1404 LCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 32.74% 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 54%, 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 54%.
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 | LCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
647 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
204 transferred to another institution.
LCC lost contact with the remaining 428 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.32% |
| Transferred | 204 | 31.53% |
| Dropped Out | 428 | 66.15% |
1600 LCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 37.31% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 43%, 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 44%.
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 | LCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 43% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
903 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
31 are still enrolled.
308 transferred to another institution.
LCC lost contact with the remaining 564 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 31 | 3.43% |
| Transferred | 308 | 34.11% |
| Dropped Out | 564 | 62.46% |
