by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to South Seattle after their first year? Are South Seattle students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Seattle | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
There were approximately 2,274 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 40% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 26% of the students had graduated and after eight years 26% 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 South Seattle graduation rate 26%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,198 | 25% |
| Six Years | 2,274 | 26% |
| Eight Years | 47 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,548 | 74% |
Approximately 6548 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6548 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2507 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 3976 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2507 | 38.3% |
| Dropped Out | 3,976 | 60.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 35% |
| Hawaiian | 67% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 35% |
| Unknown | 31% |
| White | 39% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 South Seattle are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at South Seattle College represent 12% of the students in the class of 2015, and 20.05% of South Seattle bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 40%, first-time students in the South Seattle class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the South Seattle graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
637 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
250 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 384 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 250 | 39.25% |
| Dropped Out | 384 | 60.28% |
First-time / part-time students at South Seattle College represent 27.25% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 4%, first-time, part-time students in the South Seattle class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 5%.
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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 4% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
2305 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
1033 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 1256 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 0.69% |
| Transferred | 1033 | 44.82% |
| Dropped Out | 1,256 | 54.49% |
1601 South Seattle students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.05% 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 53%, 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 54%.
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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 53% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 54% | 55.07% |
737 non first-time / part-time students or 46% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
241 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 490 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.81% |
| Transferred | 241 | 32.70% |
| Dropped Out | 490 | 66.49% |
3753 South Seattle students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 42.32% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 23%, 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 24%.
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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 23% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 37.80% |
2869 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
40 are still enrolled.
983 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 1846 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 40 | 1.39% |
| Transferred | 983 | 34.26% |
| Dropped Out | 1,846 | 64.34% |
