by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Parkland 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 Parkland 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 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Parkland College has freshmen retention rates near the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Parkland College | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
There were approximately 489 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% 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 Parkland College graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 444 | 28% |
| Six Years | 489 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 13 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1060 | 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 1060 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1060 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
468 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 570 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 468 | 44.2% |
| Dropped Out | 570 | 53.8% |
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.
The majority of students at Parkland College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 Parkland College represent 51.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Parkland College graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
543 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
222 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 309 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.21% |
| Transferred | 222 | 40.88% |
| Dropped Out | 309 | 56.91% |
First-time / part-time students at Parkland College represent 30.60% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Parkland College graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
355 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
140 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 208 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 140 | 39.44% |
| Dropped Out | 208 | 58.59% |
Returning / full-time students at Parkland College represent 12.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Parkland College graduation rate was 44%, 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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 44% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
106 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
75 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.83% |
| Transferred | 75 | 70.75% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 26.42% |
Returning / part-time students at Parkland College represent 6.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Parkland College graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
56 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 31 | 55.36% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 44.64% |
