by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SPC? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Florida, the average is 70.38%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SPC | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Florida | 70.38% |
Of the 2,859 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 32% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 30% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% of this class completed their degree.
The official graduation rate of SPC is 30%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,249 | 24% |
| Six Years | 2,859 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 190 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,335 | 68% |
Approximately 6335 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6335 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1917 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 4165 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1917 | 30.3% |
| Dropped Out | 4,165 | 65.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 44% |
| Asian | 56% |
| Black / African-American | 19% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 29% |
| International | 37% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 26% |
| Unknown | 39% |
| White | 35% |
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.
The majority of students at SPC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
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 St Petersburg College represent 32% of the students in the class of 2015, and 39.21% of SPC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 32%, first-time students in the SPC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SPC graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 38% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
1780 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
535 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 1175 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 535 | 30.06% |
| Dropped Out | 1,175 | 66.01% |
First-time / part-time students at St Petersburg College represent 37.39% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 17%, first-time, part-time students in the SPC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
2831 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
145 are still enrolled.
723 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 1963 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 145 | 5.12% |
| Transferred | 723 | 25.54% |
| Dropped Out | 1,963 | 69.34% |
936 SPC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.93% 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 45%, 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 47%.
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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 45% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 55.07% |
500 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
204 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 290 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.20% |
| Transferred | 204 | 40.80% |
| Dropped Out | 290 | 58.00% |
1974 SPC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.94% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 38%.
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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 37.80% |
1224 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
455 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 737 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 455 | 37.17% |
| Dropped Out | 737 | 60.21% |
