by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SMC 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 100% students making it past their freshmen year, SMC has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| SMC | 100% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 10,858 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 28% had completed their degree, and 30% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of SMC is 28%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8,909 | 23% |
| Six Years | 10,858 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 896 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 27,648 | 70% |
Approximately 27648 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 27648 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
12729 transferred to another institution.
SMC lost contact with the remaining 14303 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 12729 | 46.0% |
| Dropped Out | 14,303 | 51.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 48% |
| Black / African-American | 16% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 19% |
| International | 40% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 31% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 42% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 SMC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Santa Monica College represent 9% of the students in the class of 2015, and 14.31% of SMC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the SMC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SMC graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 | SMC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 43% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
1948 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
663 transferred to another institution.
SMC lost contact with the remaining 1250 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 663 | 34.03% |
| Dropped Out | 1,250 | 64.17% |
First-time / part-time students at Santa Monica College represent 11.05% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time, part-time students in the SMC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 24%.
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 | SMC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 23.72% |
3315 first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
73 are still enrolled.
1238 transferred to another institution.
SMC lost contact with the remaining 2004 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 73 | 2.20% |
| Transferred | 1238 | 37.35% |
| Dropped Out | 2,004 | 60.45% |
8731 SMC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.16% 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 46%, 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 48%.
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 | SMC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 46% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
4539 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
86 are still enrolled.
2106 transferred to another institution.
SMC lost contact with the remaining 2347 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 86 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 2106 | 46.40% |
| Dropped Out | 2,347 | 51.71% |
22745 SMC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 57.73% 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 22%.
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 | SMC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
17846 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
422 are still enrolled.
8722 transferred to another institution.
SMC lost contact with the remaining 8702 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 422 | 2.36% |
| Transferred | 8722 | 48.87% |
| Dropped Out | 8,702 | 48.76% |
