by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at OC? 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
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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| OC | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 4,364 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
25% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 42% in six years, and 43% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of OC is 42%. 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 | 4,075 | 39% |
| Six Years | 4,364 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 144 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 5,992 | 57% |
Approximately 5992 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5992 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2330 transferred to another institution.
OC lost contact with the remaining 3491 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2330 | 38.9% |
| Dropped Out | 3,491 | 58.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 25% |
| Black / African-American | 6% |
| Hawaiian | 13% |
| Hispanic | 11% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 32% |
| Unknown | 26% |
| White | 31% |
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 OC 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 Olympic College represent 13% of the students in the class of 2015, and 8.73% of OC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the OC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the OC graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | OC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
947 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
379 transferred to another institution.
OC lost contact with the remaining 536 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 379 | 40.02% |
| Dropped Out | 536 | 56.60% |
First-time / part-time students at Olympic College represent 17.33% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 24%, first-time, part-time students in the OC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 26%.
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 | OC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 24% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 23.72% |
1354 first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
593 transferred to another institution.
OC lost contact with the remaining 734 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 1.99% |
| Transferred | 593 | 43.80% |
| Dropped Out | 734 | 54.21% |
2672 OC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.45% 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 51%, 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 52%.
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 | OC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 51% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 55.07% |
1287 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
40 are still enrolled.
478 transferred to another institution.
OC lost contact with the remaining 769 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 40 | 3.11% |
| Transferred | 478 | 37.14% |
| Dropped Out | 769 | 59.75% |
4658 OC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 44.36% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 47%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 48%.
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 | OC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 47% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 37.80% |
2404 non first-time / part-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
72 are still enrolled.
880 transferred to another institution.
OC lost contact with the remaining 1452 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 72 | 3.00% |
| Transferred | 880 | 36.61% |
| Dropped Out | 1,452 | 60.40% |
