by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Delta 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 Delta. 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 68% students making it past their freshmen year, Delta 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Delta | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 1580 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 28% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% 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 Delta graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1346 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1580 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 113 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3890 | 70% |
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 3890 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3890 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1262 transferred to another institution.
Delta lost contact with the remaining 2472 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1262 | 32.4% |
| Dropped Out | 2472 | 63.5% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Delta are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at San Joaquin Delta College represent 36.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Delta graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Delta | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
1141 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
68 are still enrolled.
292 transferred to another institution.
Delta lost contact with the remaining 781 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 68 | 5.96% |
| Transferred | 292 | 25.59% |
| Dropped Out | 781 | 68.45% |
First-time / part-time students at San Joaquin Delta College represent 29.39% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Delta graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Delta | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
1296 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
56 are still enrolled.
270 transferred to another institution.
Delta lost contact with the remaining 970 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 56 | 4.32% |
| Transferred | 270 | 20.83% |
| Dropped Out | 970 | 74.85% |
Returning / full-time students at San Joaquin Delta College represent 10.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Delta graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Delta | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 32% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
386 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
193 transferred to another institution.
Delta lost contact with the remaining 184 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 193 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 184 | 47.67% |
Returning / part-time students at San Joaquin Delta College represent 23.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Delta graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | Delta | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 37.80% |
1067 non first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
507 transferred to another institution.
Delta lost contact with the remaining 537 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 507 | 47.52% |
| Dropped Out | 537 | 50.33% |
