by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many North Iowa Area Community 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 North Iowa Area Community 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 67% students making it past their freshmen year, North Iowa Area Community College 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| North Iowa Area Community College | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
Of the 414 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 38% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 42% 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 North Iowa Area Community College graduation rate 41%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 391 | 38% |
| Six Years | 414 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 10 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 595 | 58% |
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 595 students or 58% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 595 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
231 transferred to another institution.
North Iowa Area Community College lost contact with the remaining 360 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 231 | 38.8% |
| Dropped Out | 360 | 60.5% |
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 North Iowa Area Community College 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 North Iowa Area Community College represent 60.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Iowa Area Community College graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | North Iowa Area Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 50% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
304 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
118 transferred to another institution.
North Iowa Area Community College lost contact with the remaining 183 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.99% |
| Transferred | 118 | 38.82% |
| Dropped Out | 183 | 60.20% |
First-time / part-time students at North Iowa Area Community College represent 21.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Iowa Area Community College graduation rate was 22%, 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 | North Iowa Area Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
170 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
North Iowa Area Community College lost contact with the remaining 117 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.59% |
| Transferred | 52 | 30.59% |
| Dropped Out | 117 | 68.82% |
Returning / full-time students at North Iowa Area Community College represent 6.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Iowa Area Community College graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | North Iowa Area Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 44% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
38 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
North Iowa Area Community College lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 55.26% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 44.74% |
Returning / part-time students at North Iowa Area Community College represent 10.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the North Iowa Area Community 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 | North Iowa Area Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
83 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
40 transferred to another institution.
North Iowa Area Community College lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 40 | 48.19% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 51.81% |
