by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Parkland 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Parkland College 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Parkland College | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 451 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 21% of the cohort graduated. After six years 17% had completed their degree, and 18% after eight years.
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 17%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 405 | 15% |
| Six Years | 451 | 17% |
| Eight Years | 21 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,191 | 82% |
Approximately 2191 students or 82% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2191 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1005 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 1161 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1005 | 45.9% |
| Dropped Out | 1,161 | 53.0% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Parkland College represent 35% of the students in the class of 2015, and 47.23% of Parkland College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time students in the Parkland College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Parkland College graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 23% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 47.82% |
700 first-time / full-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
379 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 314 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 379 | 54.14% |
| Dropped Out | 314 | 44.86% |
First-time / part-time students at Parkland College represent 40.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Parkland College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 12%.
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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
941 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
294 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 635 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.28% |
| Transferred | 294 | 31.24% |
| Dropped Out | 635 | 67.48% |
303 Parkland College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.38% 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 21%, 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 21%.
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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 21% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 55.07% |
238 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
156 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.26% |
| Transferred | 156 | 65.55% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 33.19% |
368 Parkland College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.82% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 15%, 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 15%.
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 | Parkland College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
312 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
176 transferred to another institution.
Parkland College lost contact with the remaining 133 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.96% |
| Transferred | 176 | 56.41% |
| Dropped Out | 133 | 42.63% |
