by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Stark State College retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 50% students making it past their freshmen year, Stark State College 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 Ohio, the average is 69.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Stark State College | 50% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Ohio | 69.84% |
Of the 1153 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 23% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 27% of the students had graduated and after eight years 29% 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 Stark State College graduation rate 27%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 989 | 23% |
| Six Years | 1153 | 27% |
| Eight Years | 61 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3036 | 71% |
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 3036 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3036 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
913 transferred to another institution.
Stark State College lost contact with the remaining 2040 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 913 | 30.1% |
| Dropped Out | 2040 | 67.2% |
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 Stark State College 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 Stark State College represent 30.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Stark State College graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Stark State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
914 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
246 transferred to another institution.
Stark State College lost contact with the remaining 636 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 3.50% |
| Transferred | 246 | 26.91% |
| Dropped Out | 636 | 69.58% |
First-time / part-time students at Stark State College represent 29.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Stark State College graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 | Stark State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
946 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
24 are still enrolled.
194 transferred to another institution.
Stark State College lost contact with the remaining 728 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 24 | 2.54% |
| Transferred | 194 | 20.51% |
| Dropped Out | 728 | 76.96% |
Returning / full-time students at Stark State College represent 15.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Stark State College 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Stark State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 29% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 55.07% |
467 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
201 transferred to another institution.
Stark State College lost contact with the remaining 262 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.86% |
| Transferred | 201 | 43.04% |
| Dropped Out | 262 | 56.10% |
Returning / part-time students at Stark State College represent 23.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Stark State College 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Stark State College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
709 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
272 transferred to another institution.
Stark State College lost contact with the remaining 414 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 3.24% |
| Transferred | 272 | 38.36% |
| Dropped Out | 414 | 58.39% |
