by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Los Angeles Southwest 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 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Los Angeles Southwest 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Southwest College | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
How many of the estimated 1,598 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 19% of the students had graduated and after eight years 21% of this class completed their degree.
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 Los Angeles Southwest College graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,247 | 15% |
| Six Years | 1,598 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 156 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,743 | 79% |
Approximately 6743 students or 79% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6743 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
3620 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 2987 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 3620 | 53.7% |
| Dropped Out | 2,987 | 44.3% |
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 Los Angeles Southwest 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 Los Angeles Southwest College represent 2% of the students in the class of 2015, and 3.32% of Los Angeles Southwest College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the Los Angeles Southwest College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Los Angeles Southwest College graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 47.82% |
148 first-time / full-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
66 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 80 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 66 | 44.59% |
| Dropped Out | 80 | 54.05% |
First-time / part-time students at Los Angeles Southwest College represent 10.90% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Los Angeles Southwest 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 13%.
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 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
809 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
288 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 498 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.84% |
| Transferred | 288 | 35.60% |
| Dropped Out | 498 | 61.56% |
1533 Los Angeles Southwest College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.04% 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 34%, 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 36%.
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 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 34% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
981 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
488 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 476 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.73% |
| Transferred | 488 | 49.75% |
| Dropped Out | 476 | 48.52% |
5832 Los Angeles Southwest College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 68.64% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 16%, 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 18%.
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 | Los Angeles Southwest College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 16% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 37.80% |
4805 non first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
94 are still enrolled.
2778 transferred to another institution.
Los Angeles Southwest College lost contact with the remaining 1933 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 94 | 1.96% |
| Transferred | 2778 | 57.81% |
| Dropped Out | 1,933 | 40.23% |
