by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many NWCC 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 NWCC. 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, NWCC 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| NWCC | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
How many of the estimated 1349 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 30% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 NWCC graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1268 | 28% |
| Six Years | 1349 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 43 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3058 | 69% |
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 3058 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3058 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1049 transferred to another institution.
NWCC lost contact with the remaining 1985 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1049 | 34.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1985 | 64.9% |
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 NWCC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Northwest Mississippi Community College represent 45.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NWCC 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 | NWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
1184 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
435 transferred to another institution.
NWCC lost contact with the remaining 738 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 0.93% |
| Transferred | 435 | 36.74% |
| Dropped Out | 738 | 62.33% |
First-time / part-time students at Northwest Mississippi Community College represent 7.82% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NWCC 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | NWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
295 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
87 transferred to another institution.
NWCC lost contact with the remaining 205 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.02% |
| Transferred | 87 | 29.49% |
| Dropped Out | 205 | 69.49% |
Returning / full-time students at Northwest Mississippi Community College represent 19.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NWCC graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | NWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 39% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 55.07% |
535 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
217 transferred to another institution.
NWCC lost contact with the remaining 313 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.93% |
| Transferred | 217 | 40.56% |
| Dropped Out | 313 | 58.50% |
Returning / part-time students at Northwest Mississippi Community College represent 27.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the NWCC graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | NWCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 13% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 37.80% |
1044 non first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
310 transferred to another institution.
NWCC lost contact with the remaining 729 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.48% |
| Transferred | 310 | 29.69% |
| Dropped Out | 729 | 69.83% |
