by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Rock Valley College retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Rock Valley College has freshmen retention rates near 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 | |
|---|---|
| Rock Valley College | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 647 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 30% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Rock Valley College graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 579 | 27% |
| Six Years | 647 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 30 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1460 | 68% |
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 1460 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1460 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
684 transferred to another institution.
Rock Valley College lost contact with the remaining 729 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 684 | 46.8% |
| Dropped Out | 729 | 49.9% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at Rock Valley College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Rock Valley College represent 46.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Rock Valley College graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Rock Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
592 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
213 transferred to another institution.
Rock Valley College lost contact with the remaining 356 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 3.89% |
| Transferred | 213 | 35.98% |
| Dropped Out | 356 | 60.14% |
First-time / part-time students at Rock Valley College represent 25.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Rock Valley College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | Rock Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
413 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
162 transferred to another institution.
Rock Valley College lost contact with the remaining 237 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 3.39% |
| Transferred | 162 | 39.23% |
| Dropped Out | 237 | 57.38% |
Returning / full-time students at Rock Valley College represent 10.58% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Rock Valley College graduation rate was 36%, 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 | Rock Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 55.07% |
143 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
83 transferred to another institution.
Rock Valley College lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 3.50% |
| Transferred | 83 | 58.04% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 38.46% |
Returning / part-time students at Rock Valley College represent 17.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Rock Valley College graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | Rock Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
312 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
226 transferred to another institution.
Rock Valley College lost contact with the remaining 81 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.60% |
| Transferred | 226 | 72.44% |
| Dropped Out | 81 | 25.96% |
