by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WCCCD 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 WCCCD. 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 54% students making it past their freshmen year, WCCCD 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WCCCD | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 800 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 11% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 17% of the students had graduated and after eight years 21% 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 WCCCD graduation rate 17%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 523 | 11% |
| Six Years | 800 | 17% |
| Eight Years | 171 | 4% |
| Did Not Complete | 3623 | 79% |
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 3623 students or 79% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3623 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1752 transferred to another institution.
WCCCD lost contact with the remaining 1740 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1752 | 48.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1740 | 48.0% |
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 WCCCD 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 Wayne County Community College District represent 18.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCCCD graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | WCCCD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 19% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 47.82% |
665 first-time / full-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
312 transferred to another institution.
WCCCD lost contact with the remaining 340 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.95% |
| Transferred | 312 | 46.92% |
| Dropped Out | 340 | 51.13% |
First-time / part-time students at Wayne County Community College District represent 45.45% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCCCD graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | WCCCD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
1709 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
78 are still enrolled.
669 transferred to another institution.
WCCCD lost contact with the remaining 962 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 78 | 4.56% |
| Transferred | 669 | 39.15% |
| Dropped Out | 962 | 56.29% |
Returning / full-time students at Wayne County Community College District represent 9.84% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCCCD graduation rate was 26%, 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 | WCCCD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 26% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 55.07% |
317 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
177 transferred to another institution.
WCCCD lost contact with the remaining 130 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 3.15% |
| Transferred | 177 | 55.84% |
| Dropped Out | 130 | 41.01% |
Returning / part-time students at Wayne County Community College District represent 25.95% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WCCCD graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | WCCCD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 17% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
932 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
594 transferred to another institution.
WCCCD lost contact with the remaining 308 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 3.22% |
| Transferred | 594 | 63.73% |
| Dropped Out | 308 | 33.05% |
