by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Odessa 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 Odessa 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 66% students making it past their freshmen year, Odessa 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Odessa College | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
How many of the estimated 371 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 21% of the students had graduated and after eight years 23% 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 Odessa College graduation rate 21%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 320 | 18% |
| Six Years | 371 | 21% |
| Eight Years | 26 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1341 | 77% |
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 1341 students or 77% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1341 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
632 transferred to another institution.
Odessa College lost contact with the remaining 680 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 632 | 47.1% |
| Dropped Out | 680 | 50.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 17% |
| Hispanic | 28% |
| International | 41% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 43% |
| White | 26% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Odessa 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 Odessa College represent 39.59% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Odessa College graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Odessa College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
502 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
229 transferred to another institution.
Odessa College lost contact with the remaining 261 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.39% |
| Transferred | 229 | 45.62% |
| Dropped Out | 261 | 51.99% |
First-time / part-time students at Odessa College represent 37.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Odessa College graduation rate was 8%, and by the eight year mark, 9% 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 | Odessa College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 9% | 23.72% |
591 first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
258 transferred to another institution.
Odessa College lost contact with the remaining 322 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.86% |
| Transferred | 258 | 43.65% |
| Dropped Out | 322 | 54.48% |
Returning / full-time students at Odessa College represent 13.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Odessa College graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | Odessa College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 49% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 55.07% |
123 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
Odessa College lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.81% |
| Transferred | 67 | 54.47% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 44.72% |
Returning / part-time students at Odessa College represent 9.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Odessa College graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Odessa College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
125 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
78 transferred to another institution.
Odessa College lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.00% |
| Transferred | 78 | 62.40% |
| Dropped Out | 42 | 33.60% |
