by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Whatcom 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 Whatcom Community College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
At this time we lack retention rate information for Whatcom Community College.
How many of the estimated 1906 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 47% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 50% 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 Whatcom Community College graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1811 | 47% |
| Six Years | 1906 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 29 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 1907 | 50% |
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 1907 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1907 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
899 transferred to another institution.
Whatcom Community College lost contact with the remaining 981 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 899 | 47.1% |
| Dropped Out | 981 | 51.4% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 20% |
| Asian | 70% |
| Black / African-American | 50% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 25% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 28% |
| Unknown | 22% |
| White | 39% |
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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom Community College represent 15.67% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Whatcom Community College graduation rate was 46%, 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 | Whatcom Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 43% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
325 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
153 transferred to another institution.
Whatcom Community College lost contact with the remaining 166 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.85% |
| Transferred | 153 | 47.08% |
| Dropped Out | 166 | 51.08% |
First-time / part-time students at Whatcom Community College represent 11.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Whatcom Community College graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 39% 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 | Whatcom Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 34% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 38% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 23.72% |
275 first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
140 transferred to another institution.
Whatcom Community College lost contact with the remaining 131 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.45% |
| Transferred | 140 | 50.91% |
| Dropped Out | 131 | 47.64% |
Returning / full-time students at Whatcom Community College represent 21.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Whatcom 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 | Whatcom Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 66% | 55.07% |
289 non first-time / part-time students or 34% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
142 transferred to another institution.
Whatcom Community College lost contact with the remaining 145 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.69% |
| Transferred | 142 | 49.13% |
| Dropped Out | 145 | 50.17% |
Returning / part-time students at Whatcom Community College represent 50.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Whatcom Community College graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Whatcom Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 44% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 47% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
1018 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
464 transferred to another institution.
Whatcom Community College lost contact with the remaining 539 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.47% |
| Transferred | 464 | 45.58% |
| Dropped Out | 539 | 52.95% |
