by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Western Texas 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 Texas 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 74% students making it past their freshmen year, Western Texas 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Western Texas College | 74% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 192 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 15% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 15% of the students had graduated and after eight years 16% 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 Texas College graduation rate 15%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 186 | 15% |
| Six Years | 192 | 15% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1080 | 84% |
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 1080 students or 84% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1080 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
788 transferred to another institution.
Western Texas College lost contact with the remaining 289 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 788 | 73.0% |
| Dropped Out | 289 | 26.8% |
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 Texas 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 Western Texas College represent 23.69% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Texas College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 40% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
176 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
63 transferred to another institution.
Western Texas College lost contact with the remaining 111 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.14% |
| Transferred | 63 | 35.80% |
| Dropped Out | 111 | 63.07% |
First-time / part-time students at Western Texas College represent 14.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Texas College graduation rate was 15%, and by the eight year mark, 16% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
152 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
24 transferred to another institution.
Western Texas College lost contact with the remaining 127 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.66% |
| Transferred | 24 | 15.79% |
| Dropped Out | 127 | 83.55% |
Returning / full-time students at Western Texas College represent 3.99% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Texas College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 55.07% |
37 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
Western Texas College lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 21 | 56.76% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 43.24% |
Returning / part-time students at Western Texas College represent 58.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Western Texas College graduation rate was 3%, and by the eight year mark, 4% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 3% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 4% | 37.80% |
715 non first-time / part-time students or 96% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
680 transferred to another institution.
Western Texas College lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 680 | 95.10% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 4.90% |
