by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Suffolk County Community 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 62% students making it past their freshmen year, Suffolk County Community 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Suffolk County Community College | 62% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
How many of the estimated 2337 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 32% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% 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 Suffolk County Community College graduation rate 32%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2021 | 28% |
| Six Years | 2337 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 122 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4864 | 66% |
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 4864 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4864 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1804 transferred to another institution.
Suffolk County Community College lost contact with the remaining 2923 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1804 | 37.1% |
| Dropped Out | 2923 | 60.1% |
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 Suffolk County Community College 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 Suffolk County Community College represent 63.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Suffolk County Community College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Suffolk County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
3055 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
89 are still enrolled.
1055 transferred to another institution.
Suffolk County Community College lost contact with the remaining 1911 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 89 | 2.91% |
| Transferred | 1055 | 34.53% |
| Dropped Out | 1911 | 62.55% |
First-time / part-time students at Suffolk County Community College represent 12.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Suffolk County Community College 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 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Suffolk County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
721 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
25 are still enrolled.
191 transferred to another institution.
Suffolk County Community College lost contact with the remaining 505 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 25 | 3.47% |
| Transferred | 191 | 26.49% |
| Dropped Out | 505 | 70.04% |
Returning / full-time students at Suffolk County Community College represent 17.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Suffolk County Community College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | Suffolk County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 41% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 55.07% |
751 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
413 transferred to another institution.
Suffolk County Community College lost contact with the remaining 322 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.13% |
| Transferred | 413 | 54.99% |
| Dropped Out | 322 | 42.88% |
Returning / part-time students at Suffolk County Community College represent 6.47% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Suffolk County Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Suffolk County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
337 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
145 transferred to another institution.
Suffolk County Community College lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.08% |
| Transferred | 145 | 43.03% |
| Dropped Out | 185 | 54.90% |
