by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SJC? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 53% students making it past their freshmen year, SJC 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 New Mexico, the average is 62.90%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SJC | 53% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Mexico | 62.90% |
There were approximately 611 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 20% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 26% of the students had graduated and after eight years 28% of this class completed their degree.
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 SJC graduation rate 26%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 404 | 17% |
| Six Years | 611 | 26% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,689 | 72% |
Approximately 1689 students or 72% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1689 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
520 transferred to another institution.
SJC lost contact with the remaining 1076 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 520 | 30.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1,076 | 63.7% |
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 SJC 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 San Juan College represent 44% of the students in the class of 2015, and 46.81% of SJC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time students in the SJC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SJC graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | SJC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
734 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
159 transferred to another institution.
SJC lost contact with the remaining 519 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 159 | 21.66% |
| Dropped Out | 519 | 70.71% |
First-time / part-time students at San Juan College represent 20.09% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time, part-time students in the SJC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 16%.
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 | SJC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
396 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
118 transferred to another institution.
SJC lost contact with the remaining 263 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 3.79% |
| Transferred | 118 | 29.80% |
| Dropped Out | 263 | 66.41% |
262 SJC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.11% 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 35%, 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 36%.
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 | SJC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 35% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
167 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
SJC lost contact with the remaining 90 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 5.99% |
| Transferred | 67 | 40.12% |
| Dropped Out | 90 | 53.89% |
575 SJC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.37% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 30%, 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 31%.
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 | SJC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
392 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
176 transferred to another institution.
SJC lost contact with the remaining 204 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 176 | 44.90% |
| Dropped Out | 204 | 52.04% |
