by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at ACTC? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 62% students making it past their freshmen year, ACTC has freshmen retention rates similar to the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Kentucky, the average is 67.55%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| ACTC | 62% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Kentucky | 67.55% |
How many of the estimated 307 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
22% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 25% in six years, and 27% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of ACTC is 25%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 260 | 21% |
| Six Years | 307 | 25% |
| Eight Years | 23 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 911 | 73% |
Approximately 911 students or 73% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 911 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
258 transferred to another institution.
ACTC lost contact with the remaining 626 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 258 | 28.3% |
| Dropped Out | 626 | 68.7% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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.
The majority of students at ACTC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Ashland Community and Technical College represent 62% of the students in the class of 2015, and 61.56% of ACTC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the ACTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the ACTC graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | ACTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
558 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
122 transferred to another institution.
ACTC lost contact with the remaining 419 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 122 | 21.86% |
| Dropped Out | 419 | 75.09% |
First-time / part-time students at Ashland Community and Technical College represent 12.72% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the ACTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | ACTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
137 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
38 transferred to another institution.
ACTC lost contact with the remaining 95 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 2.92% |
| Transferred | 38 | 27.74% |
| Dropped Out | 95 | 69.34% |
200 ACTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.10% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 37%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 39%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | ACTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 37% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 55.07% |
123 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
53 transferred to another institution.
ACTC lost contact with the remaining 65 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.07% |
| Transferred | 53 | 43.09% |
| Dropped Out | 65 | 52.85% |
119 ACTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 22%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 22%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | ACTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
93 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
45 transferred to another institution.
ACTC lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.08% |
| Transferred | 45 | 48.39% |
| Dropped Out | 47 | 50.54% |
