by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to OTC after their first year? Are OTC students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 62% students making it past their freshmen year, OTC has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| OTC | 62% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
There were approximately 2,288 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 23% of the cohort graduated. After six years 26% had completed their degree, and 28% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official OTC graduation rate 26%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,877 | 22% |
| Six Years | 2,288 | 26% |
| Eight Years | 149 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,232 | 72% |
Approximately 6232 students or 72% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6232 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2397 transferred to another institution.
OTC lost contact with the remaining 3708 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2397 | 38.5% |
| Dropped Out | 3,708 | 59.5% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 OTC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Ozarks Technical Community College represent 36% of the students in the class of 2015, and 38.33% of OTC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time students in the OTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the OTC graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 30% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | OTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
2175 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
754 transferred to another institution.
OTC lost contact with the remaining 1380 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 754 | 34.67% |
| Dropped Out | 1,380 | 63.45% |
First-time / part-time students at Ozarks Technical Community College represent 15.88% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the OTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 14%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | OTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
1180 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
276 transferred to another institution.
OTC lost contact with the remaining 880 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.03% |
| Transferred | 276 | 23.39% |
| Dropped Out | 880 | 74.58% |
1909 OTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.02% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 33%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 34%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | OTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
1258 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
674 transferred to another institution.
OTC lost contact with the remaining 562 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 674 | 53.58% |
| Dropped Out | 562 | 44.67% |
2277 OTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.27% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 27%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 29%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | OTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
1619 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
40 are still enrolled.
693 transferred to another institution.
OTC lost contact with the remaining 886 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 40 | 2.47% |
| Transferred | 693 | 42.80% |
| Dropped Out | 886 | 54.73% |
