SKC Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Salish Kootenai College 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Are students coming back to SKC after their first year? Are SKC students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.

• SKC Retention Rate
• SKC 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
• SKC Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

SKC Retention Rate

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

With 67% students making it past their freshmen year, SKC 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 Montana, the average is 66.19%.

SKC Graduation Rates

There were approximately 192 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

After four years 54% of the cohort graduated. After six years 55% had completed their degree, and 56% after eight years.

Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical SKC graduation rate 55%.

The average SKC student takes 4.44 years to graduate with their bachelors.

SKC Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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SKC Drop Out Rate

Approximately 153 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 153 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 17 transferred to another institution.

• SKC lost contact with the remaining 122 who we assumed dropped out.

SKC 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 SKC 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 SKC Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Salish Kootenai College represent 46% of the students in the class of 2015, and 59.38% of SKC bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 54%, first-time students in the SKC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the SKC graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 72% 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.

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

First-Time / Full-Time SKC Drop Out Rates

44 first-time / full-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 13 transferred to another institution.

• SKC lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Salish Kootenai College represent 14.90% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 52%, first-time, part-time students in the SKC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 52%.

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 SKC Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time SKC Drop Out Rates

25 first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• SKC lost contact with the remaining 24 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

87 SKC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 24.93% 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 44%, 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 44%.

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.

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

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

49 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 3 transferred to another institution.

• SKC lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

48 SKC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 13.75% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 27%, 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.

SKC Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time SKC Drop Out Rates

35 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.

• 1 transferred to another institution.

• SKC lost contact with the remaining 34 who we assumed dropped out.

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

• Image Credit: By Djembayz under License