by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many SBCC first-year students return for their second year? How many graduate and how long does it take them? On this page we'll explore SBCC 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 63% students making it past their freshmen year, SBCC 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 California, the average is 73.07%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SBCC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| California | 73.07% |
There were approximately 6,411 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% of this class completed their degree.
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 SBCC graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5,780 | 26% |
| Six Years | 6,411 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 321 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 15,491 | 70% |
Approximately 15491 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 15491 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
5509 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 9682 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 5509 | 35.6% |
| Dropped Out | 9,682 | 62.5% |
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 SBCC 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 Santa Barbara City College represent 11% of the students in the class of 2015, and 14.26% of SBCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 36%, first-time students in the SBCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SBCC graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 39% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
1409 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
422 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 969 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 422 | 29.95% |
| Dropped Out | 969 | 68.77% |
First-time / part-time students at Santa Barbara City College represent 6.14% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the SBCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 16%.
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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
1150 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
271 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 870 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 0.78% |
| Transferred | 271 | 23.57% |
| Dropped Out | 870 | 75.65% |
6498 SBCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 29.24% 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 47%, 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 49%.
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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 47% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 55.07% |
3341 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
67 are still enrolled.
1409 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 1865 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 67 | 2.01% |
| Transferred | 1409 | 42.17% |
| Dropped Out | 1,865 | 55.82% |
12012 SBCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 54.05% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 19%, 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 20%.
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 | SBCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 37.80% |
9591 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
206 are still enrolled.
3407 transferred to another institution.
SBCC lost contact with the remaining 5978 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 206 | 2.15% |
| Transferred | 3407 | 35.52% |
| Dropped Out | 5,978 | 62.33% |
