by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Western Iowa Tech 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 64% students making it past their freshmen year, Western Iowa Tech 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
How many of the estimated 1839 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 49% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 52% of the students had graduated and after eight years 53% 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 Western Iowa Tech Community College graduation rate 52%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1752 | 49% |
| Six Years | 1839 | 52% |
| Eight Years | 52 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1659 | 47% |
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 1659 students or 47% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1659 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
642 transferred to another institution.
Western Iowa Tech Community College lost contact with the remaining 981 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 642 | 38.7% |
| Dropped Out | 981 | 59.1% |
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 Western Iowa Tech Community College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Western Iowa Tech Community College represent 16.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Iowa Tech Community College graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 52% 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 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 49% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 47.82% |
283 first-time / full-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
82 transferred to another institution.
Western Iowa Tech Community College lost contact with the remaining 195 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.12% |
| Transferred | 82 | 28.98% |
| Dropped Out | 195 | 68.90% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Iowa Tech Community College represent 8.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Iowa Tech Community College graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 23.72% |
196 first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
Western Iowa Tech Community College lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 52 | 26.53% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 70.41% |
Returning / full-time students at Western Iowa Tech Community College represent 34.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Iowa Tech Community College graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 66% 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 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
417 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
162 transferred to another institution.
Western Iowa Tech Community College lost contact with the remaining 241 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 3.36% |
| Transferred | 162 | 38.85% |
| Dropped Out | 241 | 57.79% |
Returning / part-time students at Western Iowa Tech Community College represent 39.89% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Iowa Tech Community College graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 45% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 37.80% |
763 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
346 transferred to another institution.
Western Iowa Tech Community College lost contact with the remaining 407 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.31% |
| Transferred | 346 | 45.35% |
| Dropped Out | 407 | 53.34% |
