by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 91% students making it past their freshmen year, MiraCosta 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MiraCosta College | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
Of the 1824 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, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% 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 MiraCosta College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1584 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1824 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 112 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4530 | 70% |
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 4530 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4530 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2045 transferred to another institution.
MiraCosta College lost contact with the remaining 2407 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2045 | 45.1% |
| Dropped Out | 2407 | 53.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 47% |
| Unknown | 71% |
| White | 42% |
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 MiraCosta College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 MiraCosta College represent 22.50% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MiraCosta College graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 56% 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 | MiraCosta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 50% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
647 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
234 transferred to another institution.
MiraCosta College lost contact with the remaining 397 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.47% |
| Transferred | 234 | 36.17% |
| Dropped Out | 397 | 61.36% |
First-time / part-time students at MiraCosta College represent 25.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MiraCosta College graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | MiraCosta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
1213 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
33 are still enrolled.
329 transferred to another institution.
MiraCosta College lost contact with the remaining 851 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 33 | 2.72% |
| Transferred | 329 | 27.12% |
| Dropped Out | 851 | 70.16% |
Returning / full-time students at MiraCosta College represent 12.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MiraCosta College 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 | MiraCosta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
535 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
319 transferred to another institution.
MiraCosta College lost contact with the remaining 210 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.12% |
| Transferred | 319 | 59.63% |
| Dropped Out | 210 | 39.25% |
Returning / part-time students at MiraCosta College represent 39.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MiraCosta College graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | MiraCosta College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
2135 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
1163 transferred to another institution.
MiraCosta College lost contact with the remaining 949 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 1.08% |
| Transferred | 1163 | 54.47% |
| Dropped Out | 949 | 44.45% |
