by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many WVNCC 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 WVNCC. 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 61% students making it past their freshmen year, WVNCC 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 West Virginia, the average is 70.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| WVNCC | 61% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| West Virginia | 70.53% |
How many of the estimated 243 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 34% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 34% of the students had graduated and after eight years 34% 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 WVNCC graduation rate 34%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 243 | 34% |
| Six Years | 243 | 34% |
| Eight Years | 0 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 467 | 66% |
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 467 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 467 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
226 transferred to another institution.
WVNCC lost contact with the remaining 226 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 226 | 48.4% |
| Dropped Out | 226 | 48.4% |
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 WVNCC 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 West Virginia Northern Community College represent 48.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVNCC graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | WVNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
233 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
86 transferred to another institution.
WVNCC lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.58% |
| Transferred | 86 | 36.91% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 60.52% |
First-time / part-time students at West Virginia Northern Community College represent 10.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVNCC graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 13% 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 | WVNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
62 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
WVNCC lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.23% |
| Transferred | 17 | 27.42% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 69.35% |
Returning / full-time students at West Virginia Northern Community College represent 23.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVNCC graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | WVNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 55.07% |
95 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
WVNCC lost contact with the remaining 23 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.11% |
| Transferred | 70 | 73.68% |
| Dropped Out | 23 | 24.21% |
Returning / part-time students at West Virginia Northern Community College represent 17.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the WVNCC graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | WVNCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 40% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
77 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
WVNCC lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 6.49% |
| Transferred | 53 | 68.83% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 24.68% |
