by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Mercer County 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, Mercer County 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 New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Mercer County Community College | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
There were approximately 586 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
16% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 17% in six years, and 19% in 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 Mercer County Community College graduation rate 17%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 434 | 13% |
| Six Years | 586 | 17% |
| Eight Years | 56 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,827 | 81% |
Approximately 2827 students or 81% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2827 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
974 transferred to another institution.
Mercer County Community College lost contact with the remaining 1771 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 974 | 34.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1,771 | 62.6% |
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 Mercer County 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 Mercer County Community College represent 49% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.56% of Mercer County Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the Mercer County Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Mercer County Community College graduation rate was 21%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | Mercer County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 21% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 47.82% |
1312 first-time / full-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
454 transferred to another institution.
Mercer County Community College lost contact with the remaining 812 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 454 | 34.60% |
| Dropped Out | 812 | 61.89% |
First-time / part-time students at Mercer County Community College represent 38.25% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 7%, first-time, part-time students in the Mercer County 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 9%.
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 | Mercer County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 9% | 23.72% |
1211 first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
339 transferred to another institution.
Mercer County Community College lost contact with the remaining 842 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 2.48% |
| Transferred | 339 | 27.99% |
| Dropped Out | 842 | 69.53% |
223 Mercer County Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.43% 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 33%, 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 34%.
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 | Mercer County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
147 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
101 transferred to another institution.
Mercer County Community College lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.04% |
| Transferred | 101 | 68.71% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 29.25% |
226 Mercer County Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 30%, 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 31%.
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 | Mercer County Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
157 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
Mercer County Community College lost contact with the remaining 74 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.91% |
| Transferred | 80 | 50.96% |
| Dropped Out | 74 | 47.13% |
