by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many BHC first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore BHC retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, BHC 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| BHC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
How many of the estimated 291 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
22% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 21% in six years, and 22% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of BHC is 21%. 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 | 246 | 17% |
| Six Years | 291 | 21% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,107 | 78% |
Approximately 1107 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1107 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
492 transferred to another institution.
BHC lost contact with the remaining 598 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 492 | 44.4% |
| Dropped Out | 598 | 54.0% |
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 BHC 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 Black Hawk College represent 45% of the students in the class of 2015, and 56.70% of BHC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the BHC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the BHC graduation rate was 26%, 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 | BHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
465 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.
192 transferred to another institution.
BHC lost contact with the remaining 264 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 192 | 41.29% |
| Dropped Out | 264 | 56.77% |
First-time / part-time students at Black Hawk College represent 22.52% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time, part-time students in the BHC 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 | BHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 12% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
276 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
82 transferred to another institution.
BHC lost contact with the remaining 191 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 82 | 29.71% |
| Dropped Out | 191 | 69.20% |
231 BHC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.36% 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 29%, 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 29%.
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 | BHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 29% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
164 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
100 transferred to another institution.
BHC lost contact with the remaining 62 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.22% |
| Transferred | 100 | 60.98% |
| Dropped Out | 62 | 37.80% |
225 BHC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.93% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 10%, 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 10%.
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 | BHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 10% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 37.80% |
202 non first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
118 transferred to another institution.
BHC lost contact with the remaining 81 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.49% |
| Transferred | 118 | 58.42% |
| Dropped Out | 81 | 40.10% |
