by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Southwestern Community College 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 Southwestern Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Southwestern Community College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southwestern Community College | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
How many of the estimated 274 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 40% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% 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 Southwestern Community College graduation rate 42%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 259 | 40% |
| Six Years | 274 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 367 | 57% |
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 367 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 367 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
185 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern Community College lost contact with the remaining 178 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 185 | 50.4% |
| Dropped Out | 178 | 48.5% |
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 Southwestern Community College 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 Community College represent 35.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwestern Community College graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Southwestern Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 57% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 59% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 47.82% |
95 first-time / full-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
49 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern Community College lost contact with the remaining 45 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.05% |
| Transferred | 49 | 51.58% |
| Dropped Out | 45 | 47.37% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwestern Community College represent 32.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwestern Community College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Southwestern Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 23.72% |
138 first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
43 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern Community College lost contact with the remaining 94 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.72% |
| Transferred | 43 | 31.16% |
| Dropped Out | 94 | 68.12% |
Returning / full-time students at Southwestern Community College represent 10.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwestern Community College graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | Southwestern Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
42 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.
28 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern Community College lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.38% |
| Transferred | 28 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 30.95% |
Returning / part-time students at Southwestern Community College represent 21.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southwestern Community College graduation rate was 31%, 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 | Southwestern Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
92 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
65 transferred to another institution.
Southwestern Community College lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 65 | 70.65% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 28.26% |
