by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SWC Chula Vista 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, SWC Chula Vista has freshmen retention rates near 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 | |
|---|---|
| SWC Chula Vista | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1898 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 24% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 SWC Chula Vista graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1611 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1898 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 127 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4599 | 69% |
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 4599 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4599 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1645 transferred to another institution.
SWC Chula Vista lost contact with the remaining 2864 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1645 | 35.8% |
| Dropped Out | 2864 | 62.3% |
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 SWC Chula Vista 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 Southwestern College represent 34.53% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SWC Chula Vista graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | SWC Chula Vista | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 37% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
1287 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
338 transferred to another institution.
SWC Chula Vista lost contact with the remaining 917 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 2.49% |
| Transferred | 338 | 26.26% |
| Dropped Out | 917 | 71.25% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwestern College represent 30.25% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SWC Chula Vista graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | SWC Chula Vista | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
1605 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
37 are still enrolled.
457 transferred to another institution.
SWC Chula Vista lost contact with the remaining 1111 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 37 | 2.31% |
| Transferred | 457 | 28.47% |
| Dropped Out | 1111 | 69.22% |
Returning / full-time students at Southwestern College represent 11.16% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SWC Chula Vista graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | SWC Chula Vista | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 40% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 55.07% |
424 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
213 transferred to another institution.
SWC Chula Vista lost contact with the remaining 206 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.18% |
| Transferred | 213 | 50.24% |
| Dropped Out | 206 | 48.58% |
Returning / part-time students at Southwestern College represent 24.06% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SWC Chula Vista graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | SWC Chula Vista | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 37.80% |
1283 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
637 transferred to another institution.
SWC Chula Vista lost contact with the remaining 630 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.25% |
| Transferred | 637 | 49.65% |
| Dropped Out | 630 | 49.10% |
