by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Riverland Community 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 Riverland Community 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 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Riverland Community College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Riverland Community College | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
Of the 327 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 39% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 41% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 Riverland Community College graduation rate 41%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 309 | 39% |
| Six Years | 327 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 458 | 57% |
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 458 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 458 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
146 transferred to another institution.
Riverland Community College lost contact with the remaining 295 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 146 | 31.9% |
| Dropped Out | 295 | 64.4% |
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 Riverland Community College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Riverland Community College represent 52.44% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Riverland Community College graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Riverland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
228 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
Riverland Community College lost contact with the remaining 157 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 67 | 29.39% |
| Dropped Out | 157 | 68.86% |
First-time / part-time students at Riverland Community College represent 19.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Riverland Community College graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Riverland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 28% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 23.72% |
104 first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
Riverland Community College lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 6.73% |
| Transferred | 22 | 21.15% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 72.12% |
Returning / full-time students at Riverland Community College represent 15.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Riverland Community College graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | Riverland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
57 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
Riverland Community College lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 5.26% |
| Transferred | 28 | 49.12% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 45.61% |
Returning / part-time students at Riverland Community College represent 13.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Riverland Community College graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | Riverland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 37.80% |
69 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Riverland Community College lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.35% |
| Transferred | 29 | 42.03% |
| Dropped Out | 37 | 53.62% |
