by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at PPCC? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| PPCC | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
There were approximately 1,214 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 15% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 16% of the students had graduated and after eight years 17% of this class completed their degree.
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 PPCC graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 999 | 13% |
| Six Years | 1,214 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 78 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,196 | 83% |
Approximately 6196 students or 83% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6196 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2298 transferred to another institution.
PPCC lost contact with the remaining 3815 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2298 | 37.1% |
| Dropped Out | 3,815 | 61.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 36% |
| Asian | 16% |
| Black / African-American | 5% |
| Hawaiian | 36% |
| Hispanic | 15% |
| International | 13% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 16% |
| Unknown | 19% |
| White | 19% |
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 PPCC 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 Pikes Peak Community College represent 32% of the students in the class of 2015, and 35.34% of PPCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time students in the PPCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the PPCC graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | PPCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 18% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 47.82% |
1922 first-time / full-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
659 transferred to another institution.
PPCC lost contact with the remaining 1237 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 659 | 34.29% |
| Dropped Out | 1,237 | 64.36% |
First-time / part-time students at Pikes Peak Community College represent 33.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the PPCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
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 | PPCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
2186 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
42 are still enrolled.
718 transferred to another institution.
PPCC lost contact with the remaining 1426 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 42 | 1.92% |
| Transferred | 718 | 32.85% |
| Dropped Out | 1,426 | 65.23% |
1124 PPCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.01% 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 26%, 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 26%.
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 | PPCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 26% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 55.07% |
829 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
406 transferred to another institution.
PPCC lost contact with the remaining 417 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.72% |
| Transferred | 406 | 48.97% |
| Dropped Out | 417 | 50.30% |
1473 PPCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.67% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 14%, 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 | PPCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 14% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
1259 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
515 transferred to another institution.
PPCC lost contact with the remaining 735 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.71% |
| Transferred | 515 | 40.91% |
| Dropped Out | 735 | 58.38% |
