by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Harper College first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Harper College retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Harper College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Harper College | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
There were approximately 1,991 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
27% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 37% in six years, and 38% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of Harper College is 37%. 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 | 1,825 | 34% |
| Six Years | 1,991 | 37% |
| Eight Years | 58 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,302 | 62% |
Approximately 3302 students or 62% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3302 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1529 transferred to another institution.
Harper College lost contact with the remaining 1705 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1529 | 46.3% |
| Dropped Out | 1,705 | 51.6% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 Harper College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at William Rainey Harper College represent 33% of the students in the class of 2015, and 28.13% of Harper College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the Harper College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Harper College graduation rate was 31%, 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 | Harper College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 31% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
1191 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.
648 transferred to another institution.
Harper College lost contact with the remaining 507 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 648 | 54.41% |
| Dropped Out | 507 | 42.57% |
First-time / part-time students at William Rainey Harper College represent 25.27% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time, part-time students in the Harper College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.
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 | Harper College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 23.72% |
1039 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
16 are still enrolled.
389 transferred to another institution.
Harper College lost contact with the remaining 634 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 16 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 389 | 37.44% |
| Dropped Out | 634 | 61.02% |
706 Harper College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.19% 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 54%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 55%.
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 | Harper College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 55.07% |
320 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
181 transferred to another institution.
Harper College lost contact with the remaining 136 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.94% |
| Transferred | 181 | 56.56% |
| Dropped Out | 136 | 42.50% |
1515 Harper College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 28.31% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 50%, 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 50%.
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 | Harper College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
752 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
311 transferred to another institution.
Harper College lost contact with the remaining 428 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.73% |
| Transferred | 311 | 41.36% |
| Dropped Out | 428 | 56.91% |
