by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast 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 74% students making it past their freshmen year, Orange Coast 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Orange Coast College | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 2946 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Orange Coast College graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2592 | 27% |
| Six Years | 2946 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 160 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 6463 | 68% |
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 6463 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6463 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2618 transferred to another institution.
Orange Coast College lost contact with the remaining 3758 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2618 | 40.5% |
| Dropped Out | 3758 | 58.1% |
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 Orange Coast College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Orange Coast College represent 30.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Orange Coast College graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 54% 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 | Orange Coast College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 47.82% |
1328 first-time / full-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
418 transferred to another institution.
Orange Coast College lost contact with the remaining 881 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 2.18% |
| Transferred | 418 | 31.48% |
| Dropped Out | 881 | 66.34% |
First-time / part-time students at Orange Coast College represent 23.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Orange Coast 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Orange Coast College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
1615 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
426 transferred to another institution.
Orange Coast College lost contact with the remaining 1162 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 426 | 26.38% |
| Dropped Out | 1162 | 71.95% |
Returning / full-time students at Orange Coast College represent 9.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Orange Coast College graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | Orange Coast College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 55.07% |
560 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
300 transferred to another institution.
Orange Coast College lost contact with the remaining 250 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.79% |
| Transferred | 300 | 53.57% |
| Dropped Out | 250 | 44.64% |
Returning / part-time students at Orange Coast College represent 37.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Orange Coast College graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | Orange Coast College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
2960 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
1474 transferred to another institution.
Orange Coast College lost contact with the remaining 1465 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 0.71% |
| Transferred | 1474 | 49.80% |
| Dropped Out | 1465 | 49.49% |
