by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to Bristol after their first year? Are Bristol students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 57% students making it past their freshmen year, Bristol 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 Massachusetts, the average is 73.02%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Bristol | 57% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Massachusetts | 73.02% |
There were approximately 975 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 25% of the cohort graduated. After six years 29% had completed their degree, and 31% after eight years.
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 Bristol graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 805 | 24% |
| Six Years | 975 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 67 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,344 | 69% |
Approximately 2344 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2344 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
524 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 1727 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 524 | 22.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1,727 | 73.7% |
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.
The majority of students at Bristol are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Bristol Community College represent 53% of the students in the class of 2015, and 56.10% of Bristol bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the Bristol class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Bristol graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
1223 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
298 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 881 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 298 | 24.37% |
| Dropped Out | 881 | 72.04% |
First-time / part-time students at Bristol Community College represent 23.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 17%, first-time, part-time students in the Bristol 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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
631 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
32 are still enrolled.
81 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 518 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 5.07% |
| Transferred | 81 | 12.84% |
| Dropped Out | 518 | 82.09% |
333 Bristol students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.82% 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 40%, 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 41%.
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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 40% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 55.07% |
197 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
77 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 111 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 4.57% |
| Transferred | 77 | 39.09% |
| Dropped Out | 111 | 56.35% |
453 Bristol students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 35%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate similar to the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 35%.
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 | Bristol | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 35% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
293 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
68 transferred to another institution.
Bristol lost contact with the remaining 217 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.73% |
| Transferred | 68 | 23.21% |
| Dropped Out | 217 | 74.06% |
