by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Windward CC 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 Windward CC. 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Windward CC 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 Hawaii, the average is 64.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Windward CC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Hawaii | 64.95% |
How many of the estimated 188 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 29% 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 Windward CC graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 172 | 26% |
| Six Years | 188 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 3 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 462 | 71% |
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 462 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 462 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
256 transferred to another institution.
Windward CC lost contact with the remaining 200 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 256 | 55.4% |
| Dropped Out | 200 | 43.3% |
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 Windward CC 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 Windward Community College represent 40.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Windward CC 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 | Windward CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
176 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
Windward CC lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.27% |
| Transferred | 69 | 39.20% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 58.52% |
First-time / part-time students at Windward Community College represent 17.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Windward CC graduation rate was 12%, 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 | Windward CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
100 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
Windward CC lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 36 | 36.00% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 64.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Windward Community College represent 21.83% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Windward CC graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 | Windward CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 38% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 55.07% |
89 non first-time / part-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
73 transferred to another institution.
Windward CC lost contact with the remaining 15 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.12% |
| Transferred | 73 | 82.02% |
| Dropped Out | 15 | 16.85% |
Returning / part-time students at Windward Community College represent 20.61% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Windward CC graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Windward CC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
97 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
78 transferred to another institution.
Windward CC lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.03% |
| Transferred | 78 | 80.41% |
| Dropped Out | 18 | 18.56% |
