by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at BC? 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
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| BC | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
There were approximately 4,264 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
30% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 40% in six years, and 41% in eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official BC graduation rate 40%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,960 | 37% |
| Six Years | 4,264 | 40% |
| Eight Years | 116 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,386 | 59% |
Approximately 6386 students or 59% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6386 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2528 transferred to another institution.
BC lost contact with the remaining 3715 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2528 | 39.6% |
| Dropped Out | 3,715 | 58.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 36% |
| Black / African-American | 18% |
| Hawaiian | 29% |
| Hispanic | 18% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 48% |
| White | 40% |
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 BC 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 Bellevue College represent 12% of the students in the class of 2015, and 9.90% of BC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the BC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the BC graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | BC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 47.82% |
845 first-time / full-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
422 transferred to another institution.
BC lost contact with the remaining 410 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 422 | 49.94% |
| Dropped Out | 410 | 48.52% |
First-time / part-time students at Bellevue College represent 13.43% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time, part-time students in the BC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 21%.
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 | BC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 19% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
1143 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
498 transferred to another institution.
BC lost contact with the remaining 625 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.75% |
| Transferred | 498 | 43.57% |
| Dropped Out | 625 | 54.68% |
2634 BC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.47% 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 55%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 56%.
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 | BC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
1153 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
19 are still enrolled.
450 transferred to another institution.
BC lost contact with the remaining 684 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 19 | 1.65% |
| Transferred | 450 | 39.03% |
| Dropped Out | 684 | 59.32% |
5404 BC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 50.20% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 40%.
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 | BC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 37.80% |
3245 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
91 are still enrolled.
1158 transferred to another institution.
BC lost contact with the remaining 1996 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 91 | 2.80% |
| Transferred | 1158 | 35.69% |
| Dropped Out | 1,996 | 61.51% |
