by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at GHC? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Washington, the average is 73.95%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| GHC | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
Of the 1,160 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 30% of the cohort graduated. After six years 43% had completed their degree, and 43% 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 GHC graduation rate 43%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,103 | 41% |
| Six Years | 1,160 | 43% |
| Eight Years | 16 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,543 | 57% |
Approximately 1543 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1543 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
494 transferred to another institution.
GHC lost contact with the remaining 1023 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 494 | 32.0% |
| Dropped Out | 1,023 | 66.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 38% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 17% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 21% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 23% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 37% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 GHC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Grays Harbor College represent 20% of the students in the class of 2015, and 15.78% of GHC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the GHC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the GHC graduation rate was 33%, 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 | GHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 33% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
371 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.
120 transferred to another institution.
GHC lost contact with the remaining 244 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 120 | 32.35% |
| Dropped Out | 244 | 65.77% |
First-time / part-time students at Grays Harbor College represent 4.63% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the GHC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 22%.
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 | GHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 21% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
98 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
GHC lost contact with the remaining 64 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 3.06% |
| Transferred | 31 | 31.63% |
| Dropped Out | 64 | 65.31% |
981 GHC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.08% 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 52%, 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 52%.
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 | GHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 52% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
466 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
141 transferred to another institution.
GHC lost contact with the remaining 317 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 141 | 30.26% |
| Dropped Out | 317 | 68.03% |
1055 GHC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.80% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 42%.
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 | GHC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
608 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
202 transferred to another institution.
GHC lost contact with the remaining 398 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.32% |
| Transferred | 202 | 33.22% |
| Dropped Out | 398 | 65.46% |
