by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many West Valley 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 Valley 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 78% students making it past their freshmen year, West Valley College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| West Valley College | 78% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 841 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 19% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 22% 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 West Valley College graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 712 | 19% |
| Six Years | 841 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 62 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2932 | 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 2932 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2932 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1239 transferred to another institution.
West Valley College lost contact with the remaining 1653 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1239 | 42.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1653 | 56.4% |
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 Valley 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 Valley College represent 24.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Valley College graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 44% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
520 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
177 transferred to another institution.
West Valley College lost contact with the remaining 338 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.96% |
| Transferred | 177 | 34.04% |
| Dropped Out | 338 | 65.00% |
First-time / part-time students at West Valley College represent 24.17% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Valley College graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
755 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
160 transferred to another institution.
West Valley College lost contact with the remaining 578 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.25% |
| Transferred | 160 | 21.19% |
| Dropped Out | 578 | 76.56% |
Returning / full-time students at West Valley College represent 8.34% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Valley College graduation rate was 28%, 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 | West Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 55.07% |
224 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
140 transferred to another institution.
West Valley College lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.23% |
| Transferred | 140 | 62.50% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 35.27% |
Returning / part-time students at West Valley College represent 42.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the West Valley College 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 | West Valley College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 11% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 12% | 37.80% |
1433 non first-time / part-time students or 88% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
762 transferred to another institution.
West Valley College lost contact with the remaining 658 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 0.91% |
| Transferred | 762 | 53.18% |
| Dropped Out | 658 | 45.92% |
