by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding MWCC retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, MWCC 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 | |
|---|---|
| MWCC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
How many of the estimated 436 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% 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 MWCC graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 370 | 25% |
| Six Years | 436 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 22 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1045 | 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 1045 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1045 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
293 transferred to another institution.
MWCC lost contact with the remaining 727 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 293 | 28.0% |
| Dropped Out | 727 | 69.6% |
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 MWCC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Mount Wachusett Community College represent 35.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MWCC graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | MWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
363 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
121 transferred to another institution.
MWCC lost contact with the remaining 233 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.48% |
| Transferred | 121 | 33.33% |
| Dropped Out | 233 | 64.19% |
First-time / part-time students at Mount Wachusett Community College represent 31.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MWCC graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | MWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
372 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
MWCC lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.42% |
| Transferred | 68 | 18.28% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 79.30% |
Returning / full-time students at Mount Wachusett Community College represent 9.97% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MWCC graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | MWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 40% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
90 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
MWCC lost contact with the remaining 53 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.11% |
| Transferred | 36 | 40.00% |
| Dropped Out | 53 | 58.89% |
Returning / part-time students at Mount Wachusett Community College represent 22.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MWCC graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | MWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 37.80% |
220 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.
68 transferred to another institution.
MWCC lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.73% |
| Transferred | 68 | 30.91% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 66.36% |
