by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at DCTC? 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.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 68% students making it past their freshmen year, DCTC 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 Minnesota, the average is 67.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| DCTC | 68% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Minnesota | 67.05% |
How many of the estimated 594 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
33% 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 DCTC graduation rate 40%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 559 | 38% |
| Six Years | 594 | 40% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 881 | 59% |
Approximately 881 students or 59% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 881 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
326 transferred to another institution.
DCTC lost contact with the remaining 550 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 326 | 37.0% |
| Dropped Out | 550 | 62.4% |
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 DCTC 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 Dakota County Technical College represent 29% of the students in the class of 2015, and 25.42% of DCTC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time students in the DCTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the DCTC graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 36% 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 | DCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 35% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 47.82% |
275 first-time / full-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
DCTC lost contact with the remaining 177 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 96 | 34.91% |
| Dropped Out | 177 | 64.36% |
First-time / part-time students at Dakota County Technical College represent 14.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time, part-time students in the DCTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 32%.
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 | DCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 31% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 23.72% |
147 first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
47 transferred to another institution.
DCTC lost contact with the remaining 100 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 47 | 31.97% |
| Dropped Out | 100 | 68.03% |
459 DCTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.83% 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 48%, 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 48%.
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 | DCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 55.07% |
239 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
98 transferred to another institution.
DCTC lost contact with the remaining 138 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.26% |
| Transferred | 98 | 41.00% |
| Dropped Out | 138 | 57.74% |
385 DCTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.86% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 41%, 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 43%.
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 | DCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
220 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
85 transferred to another institution.
DCTC lost contact with the remaining 135 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 85 | 38.64% |
| Dropped Out | 135 | 61.36% |
