by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa 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 73% students making it past their freshmen year, Northwest Iowa 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Northwest Iowa Community College | 73% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
How many of the estimated 274 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 59% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 61% of the students had graduated and after eight years 61% 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 Northwest Iowa Community College graduation rate 61%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 267 | 59% |
| Six Years | 274 | 61% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 174 | 39% |
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 174 students or 39% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 174 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
76 transferred to another institution.
Northwest Iowa Community College lost contact with the remaining 96 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 76 | 43.7% |
| Dropped Out | 96 | 55.2% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Northwest Iowa 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 Northwest Iowa Community College represent 56.86% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwest Iowa Community College graduation rate was 71%, and by the eight year mark, 71% 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 | Northwest Iowa Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 70% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 71% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 71% | 47.82% |
75 first-time / full-time students or 29% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Northwest Iowa Community College lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 31 | 41.33% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 57.33% |
First-time / part-time students at Northwest Iowa Community College represent 8.19% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwest Iowa Community College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | Northwest Iowa Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 32% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 23.72% |
23 first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
Northwest Iowa Community College lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 26.09% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 73.91% |
Returning / full-time students at Northwest Iowa Community College represent 12.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwest Iowa Community College graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 | Northwest Iowa Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
18 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Northwest Iowa Community College lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 33.33% |
Returning / part-time students at Northwest Iowa Community College represent 22.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Northwest Iowa 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Northwest Iowa Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 44% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 37.80% |
58 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
Northwest Iowa Community College lost contact with the remaining 30 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 27 | 46.55% |
| Dropped Out | 30 | 51.72% |
