by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Richmond Community College? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 69% students making it past their freshmen year, Richmond 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 North Carolina, the average is 66.53%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Richmond Community College | 69% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| North Carolina | 66.53% |
There were approximately 219 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, 24% in six years, and 25% 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 Richmond Community College graduation rate 24%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 160 | 17% |
| Six Years | 219 | 24% |
| Eight Years | 15 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 685 | 75% |
Approximately 685 students or 75% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 685 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
269 transferred to another institution.
Richmond Community College lost contact with the remaining 393 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 269 | 39.3% |
| Dropped Out | 393 | 57.4% |
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 Richmond 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 Richmond Community College represent 37% of the students in the class of 2015, and 36.07% of Richmond Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the Richmond Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Richmond Community College graduation rate was 23%, 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 | Richmond Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 23% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 47.82% |
257 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.
81 transferred to another institution.
Richmond Community College lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 81 | 31.52% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 65.37% |
First-time / part-time students at Richmond Community College represent 26.93% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 17%, first-time, part-time students in the Richmond 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 20%.
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 | Richmond Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 17% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
198 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
62 transferred to another institution.
Richmond Community College lost contact with the remaining 129 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.54% |
| Transferred | 62 | 31.31% |
| Dropped Out | 129 | 65.15% |
162 Richmond Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.59% 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 | Richmond Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
112 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
Richmond Community College lost contact with the remaining 55 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 4.46% |
| Transferred | 52 | 46.43% |
| Dropped Out | 55 | 49.11% |
169 Richmond Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.35% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 29%, 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 30%.
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 | Richmond Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
118 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
74 transferred to another institution.
Richmond Community College lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.54% |
| Transferred | 74 | 62.71% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 34.75% |
