by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, Pasadena City College has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| Pasadena City College | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 3419 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 30% 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 Pasadena City College graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2929 | 26% |
| Six Years | 3419 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 217 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 7669 | 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 7669 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7669 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
3183 transferred to another institution.
Pasadena City College lost contact with the remaining 4486 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 3183 | 41.5% |
| Dropped Out | 4486 | 58.5% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Pasadena City College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Pasadena City College represent 30.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pasadena City College graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Pasadena City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 47% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 47.82% |
1606 first-time / full-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
499 transferred to another institution.
Pasadena City College lost contact with the remaining 1107 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 499 | 31.07% |
| Dropped Out | 1107 | 68.93% |
First-time / part-time students at Pasadena City College represent 25.69% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pasadena City College graduation rate was 23%, 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 | Pasadena City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
2152 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
610 transferred to another institution.
Pasadena City College lost contact with the remaining 1542 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 610 | 28.35% |
| Dropped Out | 1542 | 71.65% |
Returning / full-time students at Pasadena City College represent 8.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pasadena City College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Pasadena City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 32% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
659 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
361 transferred to another institution.
Pasadena City College lost contact with the remaining 298 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 361 | 54.78% |
| Dropped Out | 298 | 45.22% |
Returning / part-time students at Pasadena City College represent 35.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pasadena City College graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Pasadena City College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 37.80% |
3252 non first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1713 transferred to another institution.
Pasadena City College lost contact with the remaining 1539 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1713 | 52.68% |
| Dropped Out | 1539 | 47.32% |
