by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Southwest Virginia? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 56% students making it past their freshmen year, Southwest Virginia 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southwest Virginia | 56% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 279 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 35% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 31% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Southwest Virginia graduation rate 31%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 247 | 28% |
| Six Years | 279 | 31% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 605 | 68% |
Approximately 605 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 605 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
115 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Virginia lost contact with the remaining 476 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 115 | 19.0% |
| Dropped Out | 476 | 78.7% |
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 Southwest Virginia 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 Southwest Virginia Community College represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 70.25% of Southwest Virginia bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 35%, first-time students in the Southwest Virginia class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Southwest Virginia graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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 | Southwest Virginia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 47.82% |
298 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Virginia lost contact with the remaining 226 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 61 | 20.47% |
| Dropped Out | 226 | 75.84% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwest Virginia Community College represent 17.06% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the Southwest Virginia class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 16%.
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 | Southwest Virginia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
127 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Virginia lost contact with the remaining 110 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.57% |
| Transferred | 15 | 11.81% |
| Dropped Out | 110 | 86.61% |
95 Southwest Virginia students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.66% 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 36%, 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 36%.
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 | Southwest Virginia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
61 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Virginia lost contact with the remaining 50 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.64% |
| Transferred | 10 | 16.39% |
| Dropped Out | 50 | 81.97% |
143 Southwest Virginia students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.05% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 17%, 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 17%.
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 | Southwest Virginia | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
119 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
29 transferred to another institution.
Southwest Virginia lost contact with the remaining 90 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 29 | 24.37% |
| Dropped Out | 90 | 75.63% |
