by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Salt Lake Community 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 57% students making it past their freshmen year, Salt Lake Community College has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Utah, the average is 75.47%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Salt Lake Community College | 57% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Utah | 75.47% |
There were approximately 2561 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 25% of the students had graduated and after eight years 27% 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 Salt Lake Community College graduation rate 25%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2107 | 21% |
| Six Years | 2561 | 25% |
| Eight Years | 161 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 7371 | 73% |
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 7371 students or 73% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7371 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2712 transferred to another institution.
Salt Lake Community College lost contact with the remaining 4470 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2712 | 36.8% |
| Dropped Out | 4470 | 60.6% |
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 Salt Lake Community 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 Salt Lake Community College represent 26.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Salt Lake Community College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Salt Lake Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 47.82% |
1688 first-time / full-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
58 are still enrolled.
506 transferred to another institution.
Salt Lake Community College lost contact with the remaining 1124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 3.44% |
| Transferred | 506 | 29.98% |
| Dropped Out | 1124 | 66.59% |
First-time / part-time students at Salt Lake Community College represent 34.51% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Salt Lake Community College graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | Salt Lake Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
2809 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
86 are still enrolled.
743 transferred to another institution.
Salt Lake Community College lost contact with the remaining 1980 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 86 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 743 | 26.45% |
| Dropped Out | 1980 | 70.49% |
Returning / full-time students at Salt Lake Community College represent 13.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Salt Lake Community College graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | Salt Lake Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 38% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
804 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
397 transferred to another institution.
Salt Lake Community College lost contact with the remaining 399 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.00% |
| Transferred | 397 | 49.38% |
| Dropped Out | 399 | 49.63% |
Returning / part-time students at Salt Lake Community College represent 26.41% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Salt Lake Community College graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | Salt Lake Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
2070 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
37 are still enrolled.
1066 transferred to another institution.
Salt Lake Community College lost contact with the remaining 967 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 1.79% |
| Transferred | 1066 | 51.50% |
| Dropped Out | 967 | 46.71% |
