by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to RMCAD after their first year? Are RMCAD 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 58% students making it past their freshmen year, RMCAD 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 Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RMCAD | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
How many of the estimated 113 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
43% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 39% in six years, and 39% in 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 RMCAD graduation rate 39%.
The average RMCAD student takes 4.75 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 84 | 29% |
| Six Years | 113 | 39% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 179 | 61% |
Approximately 179 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 179 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
86 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 92 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 86 | 48.0% |
| Dropped Out | 92 | 51.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 40% |
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 RMCAD 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 Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design represent 55% of the students in the class of 2015, and 81.42% of RMCAD bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 43%, first-time students in the RMCAD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the RMCAD graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 57% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 47.82% |
70 first-time / full-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
35 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 35 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 34 | 48.57% |
First-time / part-time students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design represent 7.88% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time, part-time students in the RMCAD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 30%.
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 | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 30% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 23.72% |
16 first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 10 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 37.50% |
| Dropped Out | 10 | 62.50% |
68 RMCAD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 23.29% 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 19%, 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 19%.
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 | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 19% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 55.07% |
55 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 27 | 49.09% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 50.91% |
39 RMCAD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 3%, 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 3%.
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 | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 3% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 3% | 37.80% |
38 non first-time / part-time students or 97% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 18 | 47.37% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 52.63% |
