by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Grand Rapids 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 58% students making it past their freshmen year, Grand Rapids 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 Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Community College | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
How many of the estimated 6,635 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 21% of the cohort graduated. After six years 29% had completed their degree, and 31% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Grand Rapids Community College is 29%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5,837 | 26% |
| Six Years | 6,635 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 495 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 15,750 | 69% |
Approximately 15750 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 15750 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
6800 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 8736 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 6800 | 43.2% |
| Dropped Out | 8,736 | 55.5% |
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 Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids Community College represent 12% of the students in the class of 2015, and 10.50% of Grand Rapids Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time students in the Grand Rapids Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Grand Rapids Community College graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 21% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
2000 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
805 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 1167 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 805 | 40.25% |
| Dropped Out | 1,167 | 58.35% |
First-time / part-time students at Grand Rapids Community College represent 15.24% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 8%, first-time, part-time students in the Grand Rapids 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 10%.
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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
3145 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
68 are still enrolled.
952 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 2125 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 68 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 952 | 30.27% |
| Dropped Out | 2,125 | 67.57% |
4164 Grand Rapids Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.19% 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 42%, 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 44%.
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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 42% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
2311 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
1258 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 1039 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 0.61% |
| Transferred | 1258 | 54.44% |
| Dropped Out | 1,039 | 44.96% |
12483 Grand Rapids Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 54.53% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 31%, 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 34%.
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 | Grand Rapids Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 37.80% |
8294 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
104 are still enrolled.
3785 transferred to another institution.
Grand Rapids Community College lost contact with the remaining 4405 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 104 | 1.25% |
| Transferred | 3785 | 45.64% |
| Dropped Out | 4,405 | 53.11% |
