by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Portland 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Portland 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 Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Portland Community College | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
How many of the estimated 2884 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 17% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 19% of the students had graduated and after eight years 20% 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 Portland Community College graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2504 | 17% |
| Six Years | 2884 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 134 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 12018 | 80% |
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 12018 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 12018 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
4564 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 7214 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 4564 | 38.0% |
| Dropped Out | 7214 | 60.0% |
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 Portland Community College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Portland Community College represent 20.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland Community College graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
2220 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
58 are still enrolled.
772 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 1390 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 772 | 34.77% |
| Dropped Out | 1390 | 62.61% |
First-time / part-time students at Portland Community College represent 34.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland Community College graduation rate was 9%, and by the eight year mark, 10% 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 | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
4699 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
107 are still enrolled.
1442 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 3150 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 107 | 2.28% |
| Transferred | 1442 | 30.69% |
| Dropped Out | 3150 | 67.04% |
Returning / full-time students at Portland Community College represent 14.71% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 55.07% |
1402 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
679 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 697 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 679 | 48.43% |
| Dropped Out | 697 | 49.71% |
Returning / part-time students at Portland Community College represent 29.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Portland 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
3697 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
49 are still enrolled.
1671 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 1977 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 49 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 1671 | 45.20% |
| Dropped Out | 1977 | 53.48% |
