by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Tidewater Community 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 Tidewater Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 64% students making it past their freshmen year, Tidewater 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Tidewater Community College | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
Of the 2051 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 20% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 23% of the students had graduated and after eight years 24% 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 Tidewater Community College graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1764 | 20% |
| Six Years | 2051 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 107 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 6751 | 76% |
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 6751 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6751 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1645 transferred to another institution.
Tidewater Community College lost contact with the remaining 5023 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1645 | 24.4% |
| Dropped Out | 5023 | 74.4% |
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 Tidewater Community College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 Tidewater Community College represent 33.61% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tidewater Community College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Tidewater Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 47.82% |
1961 first-time / full-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
26 are still enrolled.
579 transferred to another institution.
Tidewater Community College lost contact with the remaining 1356 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 26 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 579 | 29.53% |
| Dropped Out | 1356 | 69.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Tidewater Community College represent 31.64% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tidewater Community College graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | Tidewater Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
2411 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
33 are still enrolled.
602 transferred to another institution.
Tidewater Community College lost contact with the remaining 1776 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 33 | 1.37% |
| Transferred | 602 | 24.97% |
| Dropped Out | 1776 | 73.66% |
Returning / full-time students at Tidewater Community College represent 12.43% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tidewater Community College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Tidewater Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 34% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
723 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
164 transferred to another institution.
Tidewater Community College lost contact with the remaining 550 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.24% |
| Transferred | 164 | 22.68% |
| Dropped Out | 550 | 76.07% |
Returning / part-time students at Tidewater Community College represent 22.33% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Tidewater Community College graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 17% 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 | Tidewater Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
1656 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
300 transferred to another institution.
Tidewater Community College lost contact with the remaining 1341 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 0.91% |
| Transferred | 300 | 18.12% |
| Dropped Out | 1341 | 80.98% |
