by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Piedmont 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 66% students making it past their freshmen year, Piedmont Community 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Piedmont Community College | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 189 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
34% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 29% in six years, and 30% in eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Piedmont Community College graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 171 | 27% |
| Six Years | 189 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 449 | 70% |
Approximately 449 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 449 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
164 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Community College lost contact with the remaining 272 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 164 | 36.5% |
| Dropped Out | 272 | 60.6% |
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 Piedmont Community 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 Piedmont Community College represent 45% of the students in the class of 2015, and 57.14% of Piedmont Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 34%, first-time students in the Piedmont Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Piedmont Community College graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | Piedmont Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 37% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
181 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Community College lost contact with the remaining 106 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 67 | 37.02% |
| Dropped Out | 106 | 58.56% |
First-time / part-time students at Piedmont Community College represent 40.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the Piedmont Community 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 22%.
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 | Piedmont Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
204 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
59 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Community College lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 59 | 28.92% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 69.12% |
21 Piedmont Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.27% 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 29%, 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 29%.
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 | Piedmont Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 29% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
15 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Community College lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 40.00% |
70 Piedmont Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.89% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 29%, 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 30%.
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 | Piedmont Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
49 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Community College lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 29 | 59.18% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 38.78% |
