by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SPC 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 SPC. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Of the 2826 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 31% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 36% of the students had graduated and after eight years 37% 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 SPC graduation rate 36%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2459 | 31% |
| Six Years | 2826 | 36% |
| Eight Years | 118 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 4953 | 63% |
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 4953 students or 63% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4953 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1872 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 2976 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1872 | 37.8% |
| Dropped Out | 2976 | 60.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 12% |
| Asian | 42% |
| Black / African-American | 20% |
| Hawaiian | 40% |
| Hispanic | 39% |
| International | 38% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 34% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 40% |
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 SPC are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at St Petersburg College represent 27.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SPC graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
1188 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
456 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 709 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 456 | 38.38% |
| Dropped Out | 709 | 59.68% |
First-time / part-time students at St Petersburg College represent 36.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SPC graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 26% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
2079 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
54 are still enrolled.
631 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 1394 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 54 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 631 | 30.35% |
| Dropped Out | 1394 | 67.05% |
Returning / full-time students at St Petersburg College represent 9.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SPC graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 49% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
391 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
194 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 194 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.77% |
| Transferred | 194 | 49.62% |
| Dropped Out | 194 | 49.62% |
Returning / part-time students at St Petersburg College represent 25.71% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the SPC 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | SPC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 37.80% |
1295 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
591 transferred to another institution.
SPC lost contact with the remaining 679 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 1.93% |
| Transferred | 591 | 45.64% |
| Dropped Out | 679 | 52.43% |
