by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to South Puget Sound Community College after their first year? Are South Puget Sound Community College 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 64% students making it past their freshmen year, South Puget Sound Community College 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 Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Puget Sound Community College | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
Of the 2,661 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
31% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 41% in six years, and 42% in 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 South Puget Sound Community College graduation rate 41%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,489 | 38% |
| Six Years | 2,661 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 63 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,821 | 58% |
Approximately 3821 students or 58% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3821 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1454 transferred to another institution.
South Puget Sound Community College lost contact with the remaining 2294 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1454 | 38.1% |
| Dropped Out | 2,294 | 60.0% |
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 South Puget Sound Community College 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 South Puget Sound Community College represent 17% of the students in the class of 2015, and 14.84% of South Puget Sound Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time students in the South Puget Sound Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the South Puget Sound Community College graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 Puget Sound Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 35% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
721 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
289 transferred to another institution.
South Puget Sound Community College lost contact with the remaining 423 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 289 | 40.08% |
| Dropped Out | 423 | 58.67% |
First-time / part-time students at South Puget Sound Community College represent 12.83% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the South Puget Sound Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 22%.
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 Puget Sound Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
652 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
241 transferred to another institution.
South Puget Sound Community College lost contact with the remaining 395 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.45% |
| Transferred | 241 | 36.96% |
| Dropped Out | 395 | 60.58% |
1714 South Puget Sound Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.19% 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 52%, 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 53%.
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 Puget Sound Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
809 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
284 transferred to another institution.
South Puget Sound Community College lost contact with the remaining 517 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.99% |
| Transferred | 284 | 35.11% |
| Dropped Out | 517 | 63.91% |
2862 South Puget Sound Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 43.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 43%.
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 Puget Sound Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
1639 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
40 are still enrolled.
640 transferred to another institution.
South Puget Sound Community College lost contact with the remaining 959 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 40 | 2.44% |
| Transferred | 640 | 39.05% |
| Dropped Out | 959 | 58.51% |
