by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Northern Virginia 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 Northern Virginia Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 71% students making it past their freshmen year, Northern Virginia Community 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 4224 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 23% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 29% 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 Northern Virginia Community College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3481 | 23% |
| Six Years | 4224 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 209 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 10608 | 71% |
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 10608 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 10608 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
3136 transferred to another institution.
Northern Virginia Community College lost contact with the remaining 7198 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 3136 | 29.6% |
| Dropped Out | 7198 | 67.9% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Northern Virginia Community College 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 Northern Virginia Community College represent 43.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Virginia Community College graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Northern Virginia Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
3829 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
100 are still enrolled.
1565 transferred to another institution.
Northern Virginia Community College lost contact with the remaining 2164 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 100 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 1565 | 40.87% |
| Dropped Out | 2164 | 56.52% |
First-time / part-time students at Northern Virginia Community College represent 28.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Virginia Community College graduation rate was 19%, 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 | Northern Virginia Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
3403 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
116 are still enrolled.
830 transferred to another institution.
Northern Virginia Community College lost contact with the remaining 2457 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 116 | 3.41% |
| Transferred | 830 | 24.39% |
| Dropped Out | 2457 | 72.20% |
Returning / full-time students at Northern Virginia Community College represent 9.70% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Virginia Community College graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Northern Virginia Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
1005 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
286 transferred to another institution.
Northern Virginia Community College lost contact with the remaining 707 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 286 | 28.46% |
| Dropped Out | 707 | 70.35% |
Returning / part-time students at Northern Virginia Community College represent 18.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northern Virginia Community College graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | Northern Virginia Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 14% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
2371 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
46 are still enrolled.
455 transferred to another institution.
Northern Virginia Community College lost contact with the remaining 1870 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 46 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 455 | 19.19% |
| Dropped Out | 1870 | 78.87% |
