by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SMCC? 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 55% students making it past their freshmen year, SMCC 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 Maine, the average is 71.23%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SMCC | 55% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Maine | 71.23% |
Of the 640 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 19% of the cohort graduated. After six years 23% had completed their degree, and 24% 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 SMCC graduation rate 23%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 521 | 19% |
| Six Years | 640 | 23% |
| Eight Years | 36 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,108 | 76% |
Approximately 2108 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2108 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
733 transferred to another institution.
SMCC lost contact with the remaining 1331 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 733 | 34.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1,331 | 63.1% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 SMCC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Southern Maine Community College represent 48% of the students in the class of 2015, and 46.41% of SMCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time students in the SMCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SMCC graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 23% 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 | SMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 22% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 23% | 47.82% |
1020 first-time / full-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
363 transferred to another institution.
SMCC lost contact with the remaining 639 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 363 | 35.59% |
| Dropped Out | 639 | 62.65% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Maine Community College represent 22.40% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time, part-time students in the SMCC 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 | SMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 18% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 23.72% |
498 first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
145 transferred to another institution.
SMCC lost contact with the remaining 340 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 2.61% |
| Transferred | 145 | 29.12% |
| Dropped Out | 340 | 68.27% |
436 SMCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.65% 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 32%, 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 33%.
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 | SMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 32% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 55.07% |
292 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
129 transferred to another institution.
SMCC lost contact with the remaining 157 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.05% |
| Transferred | 129 | 44.18% |
| Dropped Out | 157 | 53.77% |
392 SMCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.07% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 23%, 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 24%.
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 | SMCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 23% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 24% | 37.80% |
298 non first-time / part-time students or 76% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
SMCC lost contact with the remaining 195 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.35% |
| Transferred | 96 | 32.21% |
| Dropped Out | 195 | 65.44% |
