by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WVU Potomac State 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 WVU Potomac State College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 58% students making it past their freshmen year, WVU Potomac State 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WVU Potomac State College | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
How many of the estimated 204 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 29% 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 WVU Potomac State College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 180 | 25% |
| Six Years | 204 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 521 | 71% |
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 521 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 521 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
256 transferred to another institution.
WVU Potomac State College lost contact with the remaining 265 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 256 | 49.1% |
| Dropped Out | 265 | 50.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 38% |
| Black / African-American | 9% |
| Hispanic | 17% |
| International | 17% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 12% |
| Unknown | 12% |
| White | 31% |
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.
The majority of students at WVU Potomac State College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Potomac State College of West Virginia University represent 88.22% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVU Potomac State 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 | WVU Potomac State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
460 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
225 transferred to another institution.
WVU Potomac State College lost contact with the remaining 235 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 225 | 48.91% |
| Dropped Out | 235 | 51.09% |
First-time / part-time students at Potomac State College of West Virginia University represent 2.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVU Potomac State College graduation rate was 6%, and by the eight year mark, 6% 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 | WVU Potomac State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 6% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 6% | 23.72% |
17 first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
WVU Potomac State College lost contact with the remaining 8 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 52.94% |
| Dropped Out | 8 | 47.06% |
Returning / full-time students at Potomac State College of West Virginia University represent 6.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVU Potomac State College graduation rate was 37%, 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 | WVU Potomac State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 37% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 55.07% |
29 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
13 transferred to another institution.
WVU Potomac State College lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 13 | 44.83% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 55.17% |
Returning / part-time students at Potomac State College of West Virginia University represent 3.01% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVU Potomac State College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | WVU Potomac State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
15 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
9 transferred to another institution.
WVU Potomac State College lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 9 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 40.00% |
