by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to SOWELA after their first year? Are SOWELA students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 51% students making it past their freshmen year, SOWELA 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 Louisiana, the average is 67.86%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SOWELA | 51% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Louisiana | 67.86% |
How many of the estimated 499 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 31% of the cohort graduated. After six years 38% had completed their degree, and 39% after 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 SOWELA graduation rate 38%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 473 | 36% |
| Six Years | 499 | 38% |
| Eight Years | 6 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 800 | 61% |
Approximately 800 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 800 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
231 transferred to another institution.
SOWELA lost contact with the remaining 560 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 231 | 28.9% |
| Dropped Out | 560 | 70.0% |
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 SOWELA 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 SOWELA Technical Community College represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 47.49% of SOWELA bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time students in the SOWELA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SOWELA graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | SOWELA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
490 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
103 transferred to another institution.
SOWELA lost contact with the remaining 381 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 103 | 21.02% |
| Dropped Out | 381 | 77.76% |
First-time / part-time students at SOWELA Technical Community College represent 13.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time, part-time students in the SOWELA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | SOWELA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
127 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
37 transferred to another institution.
SOWELA lost contact with the remaining 88 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.57% |
| Transferred | 37 | 29.13% |
| Dropped Out | 88 | 69.29% |
333 SOWELA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.42% 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 58%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 58%.
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 | SOWELA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 58% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 58% | 55.07% |
139 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
SOWELA lost contact with the remaining 68 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.72% |
| Transferred | 70 | 50.36% |
| Dropped Out | 68 | 48.92% |
66 SOWELA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.04% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 32%, 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 33%.
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 | SOWELA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 32% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
44 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
SOWELA lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 47.73% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 52.27% |
