NCAD Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Northwest College of Art & Design 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding NCAD 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.

• NCAD Retention Rate
• NCAD Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• NCAD Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

NCAD Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 74% students making it past their freshmen year, NCAD has freshmen retention rates above the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Washington, the average is 73.95%.

NCAD Graduation Rates

Of the 22 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?

64% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 61% in six years, and 61% in 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 NCAD graduation rate 61%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at NCAD? The standard length of time for most students is 4.35 years.

NCAD Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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NCAD Drop Out Rate

NCAD Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 NCAD are considered 'non-traditional students' who either not first-time, or not full-time, or both.

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 NCAD Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Northwest College of Art & Design represent 69% of the students in the class of 2015, and 72.73% of NCAD bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 64%, first-time students in the NCAD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the NCAD graduation rate was 64%, and by the eight year mark, 64% 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.

NCAD First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time NCAD Drop Out Rates

9 first-time / full-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• NCAD lost contact with the remaining 9 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on NCAD first-time, part-time students.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

11 NCAD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.56% 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 55%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 55%.

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.

NCAD Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time NCAD Drop Out Rates

5 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• NCAD lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on NCAD returning, part-time students.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics