by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Portland Community College first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore Portland Community College retention rates, graduation rates, drop out rates and more.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 62% students making it past their freshmen year, Portland 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 Oregon, the average is 67.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Portland Community College | 62% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Oregon | 67.48% |
Of the 1,508 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
20% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 19% in six years, and 20% 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 Portland Community College graduation rate 19%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,284 | 16% |
| Six Years | 1,508 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 99 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,270 | 80% |
Approximately 6270 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6270 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2411 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 3732 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2411 | 38.5% |
| Dropped Out | 3,732 | 59.5% |
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 Portland 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 Portland Community College represent 21% of the students in the class of 2015, and 25.73% of Portland Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time students in the Portland Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Portland Community College graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 24% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 47.82% |
1227 first-time / full-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
442 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 754 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 442 | 36.02% |
| Dropped Out | 754 | 61.45% |
First-time / part-time students at Portland Community College represent 23.01% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Portland 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 13%.
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 | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
1579 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
41 are still enrolled.
435 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 1103 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 41 | 2.60% |
| Transferred | 435 | 27.55% |
| Dropped Out | 1,103 | 69.85% |
1696 Portland Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.52% 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 30%, 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 | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
1171 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
558 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 591 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.88% |
| Transferred | 558 | 47.65% |
| Dropped Out | 591 | 50.47% |
2726 Portland Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 34.59% 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 16%.
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 | Portland Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 15% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 37.80% |
2293 non first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
33 are still enrolled.
976 transferred to another institution.
Portland Community College lost contact with the remaining 1284 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 33 | 1.44% |
| Transferred | 976 | 42.56% |
| Dropped Out | 1,284 | 56.00% |
