by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SCC 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 SCC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, SCC has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Missouri, the average is 69.43%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SCC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Missouri | 69.43% |
How many of the estimated 632 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 24% of the students had graduated and after eight years 26% 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 SCC graduation rate 24%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 540 | 21% |
| Six Years | 632 | 24% |
| Eight Years | 35 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1913 | 74% |
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 1913 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1913 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1036 transferred to another institution.
SCC lost contact with the remaining 846 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1036 | 54.2% |
| Dropped Out | 846 | 44.2% |
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 SCC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at St Charles Community College represent 46.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCC graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | SCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
829 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
363 transferred to another institution.
SCC lost contact with the remaining 450 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.93% |
| Transferred | 363 | 43.79% |
| Dropped Out | 450 | 54.28% |
First-time / part-time students at St Charles Community College represent 19.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCC graduation rate was 9%, and by the eight year mark, 10% 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 | SCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 9% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
443 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
138 transferred to another institution.
SCC lost contact with the remaining 297 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.81% |
| Transferred | 138 | 31.15% |
| Dropped Out | 297 | 67.04% |
Returning / full-time students at St Charles Community College represent 19.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCC graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | SCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 35% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 55.07% |
308 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
297 transferred to another institution.
SCC lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.30% |
| Transferred | 297 | 96.43% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 2.27% |
Returning / part-time students at St Charles Community College represent 15.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SCC graduation rate was 18%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | SCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
333 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
238 transferred to another institution.
SCC lost contact with the remaining 92 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.90% |
| Transferred | 238 | 71.47% |
| Dropped Out | 92 | 27.63% |
