by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many MECC 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 MECC. 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, MECC 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MECC | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
There were approximately 243 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 MECC graduation rate 41%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 221 | 37% |
| Six Years | 243 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 10 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 340 | 57% |
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 340 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 340 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 292 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 40 | 11.8% |
| Dropped Out | 292 | 85.9% |
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 MECC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 63.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MECC graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
188 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 158 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.19% |
| Transferred | 24 | 12.77% |
| Dropped Out | 158 | 84.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 18.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MECC 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
89 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 78 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.12% |
| Transferred | 10 | 11.24% |
| Dropped Out | 78 | 87.64% |
Returning / full-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 8.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MECC graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
27 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.70% |
| Transferred | 2 | 7.41% |
| Dropped Out | 24 | 88.89% |
Returning / part-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 9.61% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the MECC graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
36 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 32 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 4 | 11.11% |
| Dropped Out | 32 | 88.89% |
