by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at RBC? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 55% students making it past their freshmen year, RBC 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RBC | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 213 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 30% of the cohort graduated. After six years 30% had completed their degree, and 31% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of RBC is 30%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 197 | 28% |
| Six Years | 213 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 487 | 69% |
Approximately 487 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 487 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
314 transferred to another institution.
RBC lost contact with the remaining 171 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 314 | 64.5% |
| Dropped Out | 171 | 35.1% |
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 RBC 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 Richard Bland College of William and Mary represent 75% of the students in the class of 2015, and 80.75% of RBC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the RBC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the RBC graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | RBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
351 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
226 transferred to another institution.
RBC lost contact with the remaining 125 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 226 | 64.39% |
| Dropped Out | 125 | 35.61% |
First-time / part-time students at Richard Bland College of William and Mary represent 4.85% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the RBC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 12%.
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 | RBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 23.72% |
30 first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
RBC lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 46.67% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 53.33% |
94 RBC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.41% 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 31%, 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 32%.
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 | RBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 31% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 55.07% |
64 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
RBC lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 45 | 70.31% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 28.13% |
50 RBC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.13% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 16%, 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 16%.
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 | RBC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 37.80% |
42 non first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
RBC lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.38% |
| Transferred | 29 | 69.05% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 28.57% |
