by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Tarrant County College 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 Tarrant County College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Tarrant County College has freshmen retention rates near the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Tarrant County College | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
Of the 3502 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 19% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 23% of the students had graduated and after eight years 25% 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 Tarrant County College graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2836 | 19% |
| Six Years | 3502 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 256 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 11436 | 75% |
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 11436 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 11436 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
3746 transferred to another institution.
Tarrant County College lost contact with the remaining 7426 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 3746 | 32.8% |
| Dropped Out | 7426 | 64.9% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Tarrant County 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 Tarrant County College District represent 34.49% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarrant County College graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | Tarrant County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
3519 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
102 are still enrolled.
1243 transferred to another institution.
Tarrant County College lost contact with the remaining 2174 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 102 | 2.90% |
| Transferred | 1243 | 35.32% |
| Dropped Out | 2174 | 61.78% |
First-time / part-time students at Tarrant County College District represent 35.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarrant County College graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 20% 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 | Tarrant County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
4320 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
121 are still enrolled.
813 transferred to another institution.
Tarrant County College lost contact with the remaining 3386 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 121 | 2.80% |
| Transferred | 813 | 18.82% |
| Dropped Out | 3386 | 78.38% |
Returning / full-time students at Tarrant County College District represent 7.37% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarrant County 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 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Tarrant County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
798 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.
367 transferred to another institution.
Tarrant County College lost contact with the remaining 424 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.88% |
| Transferred | 367 | 45.99% |
| Dropped Out | 424 | 53.13% |
Returning / part-time students at Tarrant County College District represent 22.80% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tarrant County 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 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Tarrant County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 18% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
2799 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
1323 transferred to another institution.
Tarrant County College lost contact with the remaining 1442 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 1.21% |
| Transferred | 1323 | 47.27% |
| Dropped Out | 1442 | 51.52% |
