by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many TNCC 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 TNCC. 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 58% students making it past their freshmen year, TNCC 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| TNCC | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 620 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 21% of the students had graduated and after eight years 22% 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 TNCC graduation rate 21%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 536 | 18% |
| Six Years | 620 | 21% |
| Eight Years | 33 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2361 | 78% |
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 2361 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2361 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
620 transferred to another institution.
TNCC lost contact with the remaining 1705 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 620 | 26.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1705 | 72.2% |
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 TNCC 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 Virginia Peninsula Community College represent 30.62% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TNCC graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | TNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
592 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
219 transferred to another institution.
TNCC lost contact with the remaining 368 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.84% |
| Transferred | 219 | 36.99% |
| Dropped Out | 368 | 62.16% |
First-time / part-time students at Virginia Peninsula Community College represent 31.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TNCC graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 15% 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 | TNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
812 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
201 transferred to another institution.
TNCC lost contact with the remaining 595 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.97% |
| Transferred | 201 | 24.75% |
| Dropped Out | 595 | 73.28% |
Returning / full-time students at Virginia Peninsula Community College represent 10.65% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TNCC graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | TNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 24% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 55.07% |
243 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
TNCC lost contact with the remaining 190 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.41% |
| Transferred | 52 | 21.40% |
| Dropped Out | 190 | 78.19% |
Returning / part-time students at Virginia Peninsula Community College represent 26.94% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the TNCC graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 12% 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 | TNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 11% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 37.80% |
714 non first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
148 transferred to another institution.
TNCC lost contact with the remaining 552 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 148 | 20.73% |
| Dropped Out | 552 | 77.31% |
