by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Richland Community College after their first year? Are Richland Community College students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Richland Community College 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Richland Community College | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
Of the 252 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 27% of the cohort graduated. After six years 17% had completed their degree, and 17% after eight years.
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 Richland Community College graduation rate 17%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 226 | 15% |
| Six Years | 252 | 17% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,245 | 83% |
Approximately 1245 students or 83% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1245 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
311 transferred to another institution.
Richland Community College lost contact with the remaining 916 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 311 | 25.0% |
| Dropped Out | 916 | 73.6% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Richland Community College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Richland Community College represent 23% of the students in the class of 2015, and 42.86% of Richland Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the Richland Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Richland Community College graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Richland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
238 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
78 transferred to another institution.
Richland Community College lost contact with the remaining 154 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 78 | 32.77% |
| Dropped Out | 154 | 64.71% |
First-time / part-time students at Richland Community College represent 56.76% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time, part-time students in the Richland Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 11%.
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 | Richland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 10% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
763 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
128 transferred to another institution.
Richland Community College lost contact with the remaining 625 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.31% |
| Transferred | 128 | 16.78% |
| Dropped Out | 625 | 81.91% |
45 Richland Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.98% 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 33%.
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 | Richland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 31% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 55.07% |
30 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
Richland Community College lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 3.33% |
| Transferred | 19 | 63.33% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 33.33% |
257 Richland Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.04% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 17%, 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 17%.
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 | Richland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
214 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
86 transferred to another institution.
Richland Community College lost contact with the remaining 127 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.47% |
| Transferred | 86 | 40.19% |
| Dropped Out | 127 | 59.35% |
