by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many South Seattle first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at South Seattle. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on the retention rate for South Seattle College.
There were approximately 1052 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 36% of the students had graduated and after eight years 37% 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 South Seattle graduation rate 36%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1018 | 35% |
| Six Years | 1052 | 36% |
| Eight Years | 17 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1825 | 63% |
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 1825 students or 63% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1825 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
845 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 957 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 845 | 46.3% |
| Dropped Out | 957 | 52.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 18% |
| Black / African-American | 10% |
| Hawaiian | 20% |
| Hispanic | 22% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 17% |
| Unknown | 36% |
| White | 36% |
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 South Seattle are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 South Seattle College represent 14.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Seattle graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 47.82% |
248 first-time / full-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.21% |
| Transferred | 107 | 43.15% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 55.65% |
First-time / part-time students at South Seattle College represent 12.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Seattle 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
304 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
166 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 134 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.32% |
| Transferred | 166 | 54.61% |
| Dropped Out | 134 | 44.08% |
Returning / full-time students at South Seattle College represent 28.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Seattle graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 51% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
393 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
138 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 252 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.76% |
| Transferred | 138 | 35.11% |
| Dropped Out | 252 | 64.12% |
Returning / part-time students at South Seattle College represent 45.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Seattle graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | South Seattle | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
880 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
434 transferred to another institution.
South Seattle lost contact with the remaining 433 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.48% |
| Transferred | 434 | 49.32% |
| Dropped Out | 433 | 49.20% |
