by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding QCC retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 61% students making it past their freshmen year, QCC 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 New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| QCC | 61% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 1,762 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 24% of the cohort graduated. After six years 28% had completed their degree, and 30% 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 QCC graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,368 | 21% |
| Six Years | 1,762 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 149 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 4,456 | 70% |
Approximately 4456 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4456 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1898 transferred to another institution.
QCC lost contact with the remaining 2453 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1898 | 42.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2,453 | 55.0% |
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 QCC 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 Queensborough Community College represent 63% of the students in the class of 2015, and 68.96% of QCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 24%, first-time students in the QCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the QCC graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | QCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
2706 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
1176 transferred to another institution.
QCC lost contact with the remaining 1469 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1176 | 43.46% |
| Dropped Out | 1,469 | 54.29% |
First-time / part-time students at Queensborough Community College represent 11.97% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the QCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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 | QCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
626 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
229 transferred to another institution.
QCC lost contact with the remaining 381 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 229 | 36.58% |
| Dropped Out | 381 | 60.86% |
887 QCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.93% 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 32%, 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 33%.
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 | QCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 32% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 55.07% |
592 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
260 transferred to another institution.
QCC lost contact with the remaining 315 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 2.87% |
| Transferred | 260 | 43.92% |
| Dropped Out | 315 | 53.21% |
691 QCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.85% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 21%, 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 23%.
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 | QCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 21% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 37.80% |
532 non first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
233 transferred to another institution.
QCC lost contact with the remaining 288 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 2.07% |
| Transferred | 233 | 43.80% |
| Dropped Out | 288 | 54.14% |
