by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Pearl River Community 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 65% students making it past their freshmen year, Pearl River Community 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Pearl River Community College | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
How many of the estimated 1181 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 33% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 35% of the students had graduated and after eight years 36% 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 Pearl River Community College graduation rate 35%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1119 | 33% |
| Six Years | 1181 | 35% |
| Eight Years | 39 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2198 | 64% |
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 2198 students or 64% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2198 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
962 transferred to another institution.
Pearl River Community College lost contact with the remaining 1199 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 962 | 43.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1199 | 54.5% |
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 Pearl River Community 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 Pearl River Community College represent 33.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pearl River Community College graduation rate was 36%, 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 | Pearl River Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
734 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
241 transferred to another institution.
Pearl River Community College lost contact with the remaining 478 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 241 | 32.83% |
| Dropped Out | 478 | 65.12% |
First-time / part-time students at Pearl River Community College represent 5.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pearl River Community College graduation rate was 16%, 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 | Pearl River Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
167 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
50 transferred to another institution.
Pearl River Community College lost contact with the remaining 112 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.99% |
| Transferred | 50 | 29.94% |
| Dropped Out | 112 | 67.07% |
Returning / full-time students at Pearl River Community College represent 38.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pearl River Community College graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Pearl River Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
747 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
416 transferred to another institution.
Pearl River Community College lost contact with the remaining 322 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.20% |
| Transferred | 416 | 55.69% |
| Dropped Out | 322 | 43.11% |
Returning / part-time students at Pearl River Community College represent 21.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Pearl River Community College graduation rate was 23%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Pearl River Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 23% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 37.80% |
550 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
255 transferred to another institution.
Pearl River Community College lost contact with the remaining 287 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.45% |
| Transferred | 255 | 46.36% |
| Dropped Out | 287 | 52.18% |
