by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Middlesex Community 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 Middlesex Community College. 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 64% students making it past their freshmen year, Middlesex Community 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 Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Middlesex Community College | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
Of the 696 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
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 23% 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 Middlesex Community College graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 566 | 18% |
| Six Years | 696 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 50 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2460 | 77% |
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 2460 students or 77% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2460 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
982 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex Community College lost contact with the remaining 1423 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 982 | 39.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1423 | 57.8% |
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 Middlesex Community 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 Middlesex Community College represent 33.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex Community College graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Middlesex Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
755 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
295 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex Community College lost contact with the remaining 445 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.99% |
| Transferred | 295 | 39.07% |
| Dropped Out | 445 | 58.94% |
First-time / part-time students at Middlesex Community College represent 32.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex Community College graduation rate was 12%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | Middlesex Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
881 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
254 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex Community College lost contact with the remaining 605 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 2.50% |
| Transferred | 254 | 28.83% |
| Dropped Out | 605 | 68.67% |
Returning / full-time students at Middlesex Community College represent 11.91% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex Community College graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Middlesex Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
262 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
133 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex Community College lost contact with the remaining 127 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 133 | 50.76% |
| Dropped Out | 127 | 48.47% |
Returning / part-time students at Middlesex Community College represent 22.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex Community College graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Middlesex Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 37.80% |
562 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
300 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex Community College lost contact with the remaining 246 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.85% |
| Transferred | 300 | 53.38% |
| Dropped Out | 246 | 43.77% |
