by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Cerritos College first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Cerritos College retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 71% students making it past their freshmen year, Cerritos College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Cerritos College | 71% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 7,436 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 33% of the cohort graduated. After six years 28% 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 Cerritos College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6,032 | 23% |
| Six Years | 7,436 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 743 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 17,923 | 69% |
Approximately 17923 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 17923 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
7333 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 9967 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 7333 | 40.9% |
| Dropped Out | 9,967 | 55.6% |
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 Cerritos College 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 Cerritos College represent 6% of the students in the class of 2015, and 9.02% of Cerritos College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time students in the Cerritos College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Cerritos College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 47.82% |
932 first-time / full-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
375 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 525 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 375 | 40.24% |
| Dropped Out | 525 | 56.33% |
First-time / part-time students at Cerritos College represent 12.10% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time, part-time students in the Cerritos College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.
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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
2427 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
77 are still enrolled.
772 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 1578 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 77 | 3.17% |
| Transferred | 772 | 31.81% |
| Dropped Out | 1,578 | 65.02% |
6178 Cerritos College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 23.67% 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 44%, 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 47%.
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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 44% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 47% | 55.07% |
3269 non first-time / part-time students or 53% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
102 are still enrolled.
1571 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 1596 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 102 | 3.12% |
| Transferred | 1571 | 48.06% |
| Dropped Out | 1,596 | 48.82% |
15118 Cerritos College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 57.92% 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 25%.
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 | Cerritos College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 37.80% |
11295 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
412 are still enrolled.
4615 transferred to another institution.
Cerritos College lost contact with the remaining 6268 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 412 | 3.65% |
| Transferred | 4615 | 40.86% |
| Dropped Out | 6,268 | 55.49% |
