by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Merritt 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 50% students making it past their freshmen year, Merritt 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 | |
|---|---|
| Merritt College | 50% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 1,501 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, 16% 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 Merritt College graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,217 | 13% |
| Six Years | 1,501 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 190 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 7,443 | 81% |
Approximately 7443 students or 81% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 7443 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
4510 transferred to another institution.
Merritt College lost contact with the remaining 2782 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 4510 | 60.6% |
| Dropped Out | 2,782 | 37.4% |
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 Merritt 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 Merritt College represent 2% of the students in the class of 2015, and 2.93% of Merritt College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the Merritt College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Merritt College graduation rate was 22%, 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 | Merritt College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 22% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 47.82% |
155 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.
69 transferred to another institution.
Merritt College lost contact with the remaining 84 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 69 | 44.52% |
| Dropped Out | 84 | 54.19% |
First-time / part-time students at Merritt College represent 7.94% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the Merritt 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 14%.
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 | Merritt College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
621 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
298 transferred to another institution.
Merritt College lost contact with the remaining 313 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.61% |
| Transferred | 298 | 47.99% |
| Dropped Out | 313 | 50.40% |
880 Merritt College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.63% 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 28%, 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 31%.
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 | Merritt College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
610 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
363 transferred to another institution.
Merritt College lost contact with the remaining 240 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.15% |
| Transferred | 363 | 59.51% |
| Dropped Out | 240 | 39.34% |
7327 Merritt College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 80.22% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 15%, 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 17%.
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 | Merritt College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 17% | 37.80% |
6057 non first-time / part-time students or 83% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
132 are still enrolled.
3780 transferred to another institution.
Merritt College lost contact with the remaining 2145 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 132 | 2.18% |
| Transferred | 3780 | 62.41% |
| Dropped Out | 2,145 | 35.41% |
