by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Seattle Central retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
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 | |
|---|---|
| Seattle Central | |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Washington | 73.95% |
How many of the estimated 3,253 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 27% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 35% of the students had graduated and after eight years 35% 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 Seattle Central graduation rate 35%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3,111 | 33% |
| Six Years | 3,253 | 35% |
| Eight Years | 79 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 6,073 | 65% |
Approximately 6073 students or 65% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 6073 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
2672 transferred to another institution.
Seattle Central lost contact with the remaining 3297 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 2672 | 44.0% |
| Dropped Out | 3,297 | 54.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 57% |
| Black / African-American | 23% |
| Hispanic | 14% |
| International | 50% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 7% |
| Unknown | 21% |
| White | 29% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Seattle Central are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Seattle Central College represent 14% of the students in the class of 2015, and 11.40% of Seattle Central bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 27%, first-time students in the Seattle Central class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Seattle Central graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | Seattle Central | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
929 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
474 transferred to another institution.
Seattle Central lost contact with the remaining 439 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 474 | 51.02% |
| Dropped Out | 439 | 47.26% |
First-time / part-time students at Seattle Central College represent 13.07% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the Seattle Central 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 | Seattle Central | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 16% | 23.72% |
1030 first-time / part-time students or 84% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
547 transferred to another institution.
Seattle Central lost contact with the remaining 471 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.17% |
| Transferred | 547 | 53.11% |
| Dropped Out | 471 | 45.73% |
3365 Seattle Central students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 35.78% 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 49%, 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 | Seattle Central | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 49% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 55.07% |
1704 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
585 transferred to another institution.
Seattle Central lost contact with the remaining 1097 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 1.29% |
| Transferred | 585 | 34.33% |
| Dropped Out | 1,097 | 64.38% |
3497 Seattle Central students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 37.18% of the students in the class of 2015.
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.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
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 | Seattle Central | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
2410 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
54 are still enrolled.
1066 transferred to another institution.
Seattle Central lost contact with the remaining 1290 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 54 | 2.24% |
| Transferred | 1066 | 44.23% |
| Dropped Out | 1,290 | 53.53% |
