by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 65% students making it past their freshmen year, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
There were approximately 1,404 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 31% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% of this class completed their degree.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,253 | 26% |
| Six Years | 1,404 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 88 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,319 | 69% |
Approximately 3319 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3319 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2180 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College lost contact with the remaining 1078 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2180 | 65.7% |
| Dropped Out | 1,078 | 32.5% |
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.
The majority of students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College represent 55% of the students in the class of 2015, and 64.89% of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time students in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 37% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
1691 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1025 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College lost contact with the remaining 617 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1025 | 60.62% |
| Dropped Out | 617 | 36.49% |
First-time / part-time students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College represent 11.57% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
471 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.
177 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College lost contact with the remaining 286 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.70% |
| Transferred | 177 | 37.58% |
| Dropped Out | 286 | 60.72% |
930 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.31% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 34%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 34% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
608 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
551 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.16% |
| Transferred | 551 | 90.63% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 9.21% |
661 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 17%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 17%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
549 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
427 transferred to another institution.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College lost contact with the remaining 119 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.55% |
| Transferred | 427 | 77.78% |
| Dropped Out | 119 | 21.68% |
