by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Palo Alto College retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Of the 646 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 17% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 19% of the students had graduated and after eight years 21% 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 Palo Alto College graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 556 | 17% |
| Six Years | 646 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 45 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2627 | 79% |
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 2627 students or 79% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2627 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1234 transferred to another institution.
Palo Alto College lost contact with the remaining 1393 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1234 | 47.0% |
| Dropped Out | 1393 | 53.0% |
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto College represent 28.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Alto College graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | Palo Alto College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 35% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
603 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
150 transferred to another institution.
Palo Alto College lost contact with the remaining 453 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 150 | 24.88% |
| Dropped Out | 453 | 75.12% |
First-time / part-time students at Palo Alto College represent 33.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Alto 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Palo Alto College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
914 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
342 transferred to another institution.
Palo Alto College lost contact with the remaining 572 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 342 | 37.42% |
| Dropped Out | 572 | 62.58% |
Returning / full-time students at Palo Alto College represent 4.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Alto College graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | Palo Alto College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
86 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
49 transferred to another institution.
Palo Alto College lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 49 | 56.98% |
| Dropped Out | 37 | 43.02% |
Returning / part-time students at Palo Alto College represent 33.36% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Alto College graduation rate was 7%, and by the eight year mark, 7% 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 | Palo Alto College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 7% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 37.80% |
1024 non first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
693 transferred to another institution.
Palo Alto College lost contact with the remaining 331 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 693 | 67.68% |
| Dropped Out | 331 | 32.32% |
