by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SBCC 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 65% students making it past their freshmen year, SBCC 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 | |
|---|---|
| SBCC | 65% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 1688 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 31% 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 SBCC graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1558 | 27% |
| Six Years | 1688 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3970 | 69% |
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 3970 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3970 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1745 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 2178 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1745 | 44.0% |
| Dropped Out | 2178 | 54.9% |
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 SBCC 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 Santa Barbara City College represent 31.39% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SBCC graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
960 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
270 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 677 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.35% |
| Transferred | 270 | 28.12% |
| Dropped Out | 677 | 70.52% |
First-time / part-time students at Santa Barbara City College represent 23.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SBCC graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
958 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
275 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 667 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 275 | 28.71% |
| Dropped Out | 667 | 69.62% |
Returning / full-time students at Santa Barbara City College represent 12.81% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SBCC graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 35% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
474 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
299 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 173 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.42% |
| Transferred | 299 | 63.08% |
| Dropped Out | 173 | 36.50% |
Returning / part-time students at Santa Barbara City College represent 32.63% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SBCC graduation rate was 14%, 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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 14% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 37.80% |
1578 non first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
901 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 661 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.01% |
| Transferred | 901 | 57.10% |
| Dropped Out | 661 | 41.89% |
