by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MCC 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 MCC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 67% students making it past their freshmen year, MCC 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 Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MCC | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
Of the 1510 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 17% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 19% of the students had graduated and after eight years 20% 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 MCC graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1295 | 17% |
| Six Years | 1510 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 60 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 6188 | 80% |
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 6188 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6188 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2615 transferred to another institution.
MCC lost contact with the remaining 3460 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2615 | 42.3% |
| Dropped Out | 3460 | 55.9% |
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 MCC 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 Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City represent 34.11% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MCC graduation rate was 29%, 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 | MCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
1874 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
36 are still enrolled.
607 transferred to another institution.
MCC lost contact with the remaining 1231 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 607 | 32.39% |
| Dropped Out | 1231 | 65.69% |
First-time / part-time students at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City represent 33.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MCC graduation rate was 10%, and by the eight year mark, 11% 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 | MCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
2287 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
45 are still enrolled.
821 transferred to another institution.
MCC lost contact with the remaining 1421 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 45 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 821 | 35.90% |
| Dropped Out | 1421 | 62.13% |
Returning / full-time students at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City represent 13.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MCC graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | MCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
696 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
393 transferred to another institution.
MCC lost contact with the remaining 289 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.01% |
| Transferred | 393 | 56.47% |
| Dropped Out | 289 | 41.52% |
Returning / part-time students at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City represent 19.27% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MCC graduation rate was 10%, and by the eight year mark, 11% 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 | MCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 10% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 37.80% |
1331 non first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
794 transferred to another institution.
MCC lost contact with the remaining 519 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.35% |
| Transferred | 794 | 59.65% |
| Dropped Out | 519 | 38.99% |
