by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Merced Community College District 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Merced Community College District 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 | |
|---|---|
| Merced Community College District | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1074 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 Merced Community College District graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 912 | 25% |
| Six Years | 1074 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 69 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2569 | 69% |
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 2569 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2569 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
826 transferred to another institution.
Merced Community College District lost contact with the remaining 1662 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 826 | 32.2% |
| Dropped Out | 1662 | 64.7% |
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 Merced Community College District are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Merced College represent 39.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Merced Community College District graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Merced Community College District | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
816 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
Merced Community College District lost contact with the remaining 602 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 180 | 22.06% |
| Dropped Out | 602 | 73.77% |
First-time / part-time students at Merced College represent 26.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Merced Community College District graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | Merced Community College District | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
772 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
137 transferred to another institution.
Merced Community College District lost contact with the remaining 605 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.89% |
| Transferred | 137 | 17.75% |
| Dropped Out | 605 | 78.37% |
Returning / full-time students at Merced College represent 10.70% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Merced Community College District graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Merced Community College District | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
224 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
110 transferred to another institution.
Merced Community College District lost contact with the remaining 105 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 4.02% |
| Transferred | 110 | 49.11% |
| Dropped Out | 105 | 46.88% |
Returning / part-time students at Merced College represent 23.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Merced Community College District 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 | Merced Community College District | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 13% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
757 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
399 transferred to another institution.
Merced Community College District lost contact with the remaining 350 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.06% |
| Transferred | 399 | 52.71% |
| Dropped Out | 350 | 46.24% |
