by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many West Shore 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 West Shore Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 68% students making it past their freshmen year, West Shore 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| West Shore Community College | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 75 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 22% 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 West Shore Community College graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 71 | 22% |
| Six Years | 75 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 6 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 241 | 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 241 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 241 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
West Shore Community College lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 96 | 39.8% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 57.3% |
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 West Shore Community College 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 West Shore Community College represent 39.13% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Shore Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | West Shore Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
88 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
42 transferred to another institution.
West Shore Community College lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.41% |
| Transferred | 42 | 47.73% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 48.86% |
First-time / part-time students at West Shore Community College represent 33.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Shore Community College graduation rate was 15%, 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 | West Shore Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
91 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
28 transferred to another institution.
West Shore Community College lost contact with the remaining 62 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.10% |
| Transferred | 28 | 30.77% |
| Dropped Out | 62 | 68.13% |
Returning / full-time students at West Shore Community College represent 5.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Shore Community College graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 53% 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 | West Shore Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 53% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
9 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
4 transferred to another institution.
West Shore Community College lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 11.11% |
| Transferred | 4 | 44.44% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 44.44% |
Returning / part-time students at West Shore Community College represent 21.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Shore Community College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 24% 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 | West Shore Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 21% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 37.80% |
53 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
West Shore Community College lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.77% |
| Transferred | 22 | 41.51% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 54.72% |
