by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to RVCC after their first year? Are RVCC students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 69% students making it past their freshmen year, RVCC 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 New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RVCC | 69% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
There were approximately 804 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 26% of the cohort graduated. After six years 27% had completed their degree, and 28% after eight years.
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 RVCC graduation rate 27%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 645 | 21% |
| Six Years | 804 | 27% |
| Eight Years | 56 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,173 | 72% |
Approximately 2173 students or 72% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2173 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
879 transferred to another institution.
RVCC lost contact with the remaining 1228 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 879 | 40.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1,228 | 56.5% |
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.
The majority of students at RVCC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Raritan Valley Community College represent 48% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.33% of RVCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 26%, first-time students in the RVCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the RVCC graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | RVCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
971 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
401 transferred to another institution.
RVCC lost contact with the remaining 533 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 401 | 41.30% |
| Dropped Out | 533 | 54.89% |
First-time / part-time students at Raritan Valley Community College represent 20.11% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the RVCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 17%.
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 | RVCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 23.72% |
505 first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
134 transferred to another institution.
RVCC lost contact with the remaining 352 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 3.76% |
| Transferred | 134 | 26.53% |
| Dropped Out | 352 | 69.70% |
458 RVCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.10% 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 27%, 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 28%.
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 | RVCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 55.07% |
330 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
198 transferred to another institution.
RVCC lost contact with the remaining 126 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 198 | 60.00% |
| Dropped Out | 126 | 38.18% |
497 RVCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.39% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 25%, 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 26%.
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 | RVCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
367 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
146 transferred to another institution.
RVCC lost contact with the remaining 217 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 146 | 39.78% |
| Dropped Out | 217 | 59.13% |
