by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many South Mountain 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 South Mountain 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 51% students making it past their freshmen year, South Mountain 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 Arizona, the average is 67.94%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Mountain Community College | 51% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arizona | 67.94% |
How many of the estimated 266 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
Four years after beginning their degree, 22% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 9% of the students had graduated and after eight years 10% of this class completed their degree.
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 South Mountain Community College graduation rate 9%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 209 | 7% |
| Six Years | 266 | 9% |
| Eight Years | 23 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,645 | 90% |
Approximately 2645 students or 90% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2645 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1256 transferred to another institution.
South Mountain Community College lost contact with the remaining 1361 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1256 | 47.5% |
| Dropped Out | 1,361 | 51.5% |
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 South Mountain 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 South Mountain Community College represent 10% of the students in the class of 2015, and 30.83% of South Mountain Community College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the South Mountain Community College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the South Mountain Community College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | South Mountain Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
210 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
104 transferred to another institution.
South Mountain Community College lost contact with the remaining 103 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 104 | 49.52% |
| Dropped Out | 103 | 49.05% |
First-time / part-time students at South Mountain Community College represent 31.46% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 5%, first-time, part-time students in the South Mountain 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 6%.
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 | South Mountain Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 6% | 23.72% |
870 first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
253 transferred to another institution.
South Mountain Community College lost contact with the remaining 602 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 253 | 29.08% |
| Dropped Out | 602 | 69.20% |
198 South Mountain Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 6.75% 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 30%.
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 | South Mountain Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 30% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 55.07% |
138 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
87 transferred to another institution.
South Mountain Community College lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.45% |
| Transferred | 87 | 63.04% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 35.51% |
1514 South Mountain Community College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 51.60% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 5%, 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 6%.
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 | South Mountain Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 5% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 6% | 37.80% |
1427 non first-time / part-time students or 94% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
812 transferred to another institution.
South Mountain Community College lost contact with the remaining 607 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 0.56% |
| Transferred | 812 | 56.90% |
| Dropped Out | 607 | 42.54% |
