by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Kirkwood Community College retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, Kirkwood 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 Iowa, the average is 68.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Kirkwood Community College | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Iowa | 68.94% |
There were approximately 1,766 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 25% of the cohort graduated. After six years 27% had completed their degree, and 28% after 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 Kirkwood Community College graduation rate 27%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,593 | 24% |
| Six Years | 1,766 | 27% |
| Eight Years | 65 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 4,762 | 72% |
Approximately 4762 students or 72% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 4762 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1887 transferred to another institution.
Kirkwood Community College lost contact with the remaining 2800 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1887 | 39.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2,800 | 58.8% |
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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 52.43% of Kirkwood Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the Kirkwood Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Kirkwood Community College graduation rate was 28%, 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 | Kirkwood Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
2398 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.
844 transferred to another institution.
Kirkwood Community College lost contact with the remaining 1512 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 844 | 35.20% |
| Dropped Out | 1,512 | 63.05% |
First-time / part-time students at Kirkwood Community College represent 15.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Kirkwood 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 11%.
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 | Kirkwood Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
888 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
11 are still enrolled.
303 transferred to another institution.
Kirkwood Community College lost contact with the remaining 574 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 11 | 1.24% |
| Transferred | 303 | 34.12% |
| Dropped Out | 574 | 64.64% |
1372 Kirkwood Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.76% 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 40%.
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 | Kirkwood Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 39% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
828 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
446 transferred to another institution.
Kirkwood Community College lost contact with the remaining 370 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.45% |
| Transferred | 446 | 53.86% |
| Dropped Out | 370 | 44.69% |
858 Kirkwood Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.98% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 24%, 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 24%.
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 | Kirkwood Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 24% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 37.80% |
648 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
294 transferred to another institution.
Kirkwood Community College lost contact with the remaining 344 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 294 | 45.37% |
| Dropped Out | 344 | 53.09% |
