by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to SFCC after their first year? Are SFCC 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 53% students making it past their freshmen year, SFCC 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 | |
|---|---|
| SFCC | 53% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Mexico | 62.90% |
There were approximately 298 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 16% of the cohort graduated. After six years 21% had completed their degree, and 22% after 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 SFCC graduation rate 21%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 234 | 16% |
| Six Years | 298 | 21% |
| Eight Years | 21 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,130 | 78% |
Approximately 1130 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1130 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
384 transferred to another institution.
SFCC lost contact with the remaining 712 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 384 | 34.0% |
| Dropped Out | 712 | 63.0% |
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 SFCC 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 Santa Fe Community College represent 35% of the students in the class of 2015, and 37.25% of SFCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the SFCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SFCC graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | SFCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 22% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 47.82% |
379 first-time / full-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
111 transferred to another institution.
SFCC lost contact with the remaining 254 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 111 | 29.29% |
| Dropped Out | 254 | 67.02% |
First-time / part-time students at Santa Fe Community College represent 20.66% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the SFCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
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 | SFCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
258 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
SFCC lost contact with the remaining 195 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.33% |
| Transferred | 57 | 22.09% |
| Dropped Out | 195 | 75.58% |
224 SFCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.43% 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 32%, 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 33%.
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 | SFCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 32% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 55.07% |
149 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
SFCC lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.01% |
| Transferred | 69 | 46.31% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 51.68% |
427 SFCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 29.41% of the students in the class of 2015.
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.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 19%.
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 | SFCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
344 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
147 transferred to another institution.
SFCC lost contact with the remaining 186 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 3.20% |
| Transferred | 147 | 42.73% |
| Dropped Out | 186 | 54.07% |
