by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Erie Community College? 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 55% students making it past their freshmen year, Erie Community College 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 | |
|---|---|
| Erie Community College | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 1,520 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
25% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 28% in six years, and 30% 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 Erie Community College graduation rate 28%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,354 | 25% |
| Six Years | 1,520 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 76 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,741 | 70% |
Approximately 3741 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3741 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1432 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 2239 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1432 | 38.3% |
| Dropped Out | 2,239 | 59.9% |
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 Erie Community 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 Erie Community College represent 64% of the students in the class of 2015, and 61.64% of Erie Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the Erie Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Erie Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
2443 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
859 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 1534 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 859 | 35.16% |
| Dropped Out | 1,534 | 62.79% |
First-time / part-time students at Erie Community College represent 9.16% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the Erie Community 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 14%.
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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
419 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
120 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 120 | 28.64% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 70.17% |
1099 Erie Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.59% 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 39%, 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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 39% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 41% | 55.07% |
650 non first-time / part-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
327 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 310 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.00% |
| Transferred | 327 | 50.31% |
| Dropped Out | 310 | 47.69% |
317 Erie Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 5.94% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 27%, 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 28%.
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 | Erie Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 27% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 37.80% |
229 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
126 transferred to another institution.
Erie Community College lost contact with the remaining 101 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.87% |
| Transferred | 126 | 55.02% |
| Dropped Out | 101 | 44.10% |
