by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College. 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 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Palo Verde 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Palo Verde College | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 272 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 13% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 16% of the students had graduated and after eight years 17% 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 Verde College graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 225 | 13% |
| Six Years | 272 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 24 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1422 | 83% |
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 1422 students or 83% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1422 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
368 transferred to another institution.
Palo Verde College lost contact with the remaining 1054 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 368 | 25.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1054 | 74.1% |
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 Palo Verde College 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 Palo Verde College represent 5.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Verde College graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 Verde College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
62 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
Palo Verde College lost contact with the remaining 50 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 12 | 19.35% |
| Dropped Out | 50 | 80.65% |
First-time / part-time students at Palo Verde College represent 52.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Verde College graduation rate was 12%, and by the eight year mark, 13% 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 Verde College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
783 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
112 transferred to another institution.
Palo Verde College lost contact with the remaining 671 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 112 | 14.30% |
| Dropped Out | 671 | 85.70% |
Returning / full-time students at Palo Verde College represent 3.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Verde College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 Verde College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 32% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
40 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
Palo Verde College lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 42.50% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 57.50% |
Returning / part-time students at Palo Verde College represent 38.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Palo Verde College graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 Verde College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
537 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
227 transferred to another institution.
Palo Verde College lost contact with the remaining 310 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 227 | 42.27% |
| Dropped Out | 310 | 57.73% |
