by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at MECC? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 58% students making it past their freshmen year, MECC 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| MECC | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
There were approximately 294 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 32% had completed their degree, and 34% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of MECC is 32%. 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 | 270 | 29% |
| Six Years | 294 | 32% |
| Eight Years | 21 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 609 | 66% |
Approximately 609 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 609 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
90 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 505 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 90 | 14.8% |
| Dropped Out | 505 | 82.9% |
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 MECC 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 Mountain Empire Community College represent 60% of the students in the class of 2015, and 76.87% of MECC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the MECC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the MECC graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
322 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
49 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 265 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 49 | 15.22% |
| Dropped Out | 265 | 82.30% |
First-time / part-time students at Mountain Empire Community College represent 21.97% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the MECC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
172 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
26 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 141 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.91% |
| Transferred | 26 | 15.12% |
| Dropped Out | 141 | 81.98% |
58 MECC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.28% 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 33%.
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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 55.07% |
39 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
7 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 7 | 17.95% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 79.49% |
104 MECC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.26% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 25%, 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 27%.
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 | MECC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
76 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
8 transferred to another institution.
MECC lost contact with the remaining 68 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 8 | 10.53% |
| Dropped Out | 68 | 89.47% |
