by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Middlesex County 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 County 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, Middlesex County College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Middlesex County College | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
Of the 1090 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% 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 Middlesex County College graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 891 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1090 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 53 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2572 | 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 2572 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2572 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
935 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex County College lost contact with the remaining 1537 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 935 | 36.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1537 | 59.8% |
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.
The majority of students at Middlesex County College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 College represent 55.21% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex County College graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 35% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
1303 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
51 are still enrolled.
487 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex County College lost contact with the remaining 765 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 51 | 3.91% |
| Transferred | 487 | 37.38% |
| Dropped Out | 765 | 58.71% |
First-time / part-time students at Middlesex College represent 30.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex County 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 | Middlesex County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
908 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
41 are still enrolled.
262 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex County College lost contact with the remaining 605 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 4.52% |
| Transferred | 262 | 28.85% |
| Dropped Out | 605 | 66.63% |
Returning / full-time students at Middlesex College represent 7.03% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex County College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 55.07% |
151 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
87 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex County College lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.66% |
| Transferred | 87 | 57.62% |
| Dropped Out | 63 | 41.72% |
Returning / part-time students at Middlesex College represent 7.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Middlesex County College graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
210 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
99 transferred to another institution.
Middlesex County College lost contact with the remaining 104 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.33% |
| Transferred | 99 | 47.14% |
| Dropped Out | 104 | 49.52% |
