by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding SWIC 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.
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, SWIC 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 Illinois, the average is 72.64%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SWIC | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Illinois | 72.64% |
There were approximately 808 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
28% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 29% in six years, and 30% in 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 SWIC graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 717 | 26% |
| Six Years | 808 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 18 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,926 | 70% |
Approximately 1926 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1926 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
855 transferred to another institution.
SWIC lost contact with the remaining 1036 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 855 | 44.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1,036 | 53.8% |
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 SWIC 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 Southwestern Illinois College represent 40% of the students in the class of 2015, and 43.19% of SWIC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time students in the SWIC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SWIC graduation rate was 32%, and by the eight year mark, 33% 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 | SWIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 47.82% |
730 first-time / full-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
318 transferred to another institution.
SWIC lost contact with the remaining 400 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 318 | 43.56% |
| Dropped Out | 400 | 54.79% |
First-time / part-time students at Southwestern Illinois College represent 26.49% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 28%, first-time, part-time students in the SWIC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | SWIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 28% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
522 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
152 transferred to another institution.
SWIC lost contact with the remaining 362 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.53% |
| Transferred | 152 | 29.12% |
| Dropped Out | 362 | 69.35% |
452 SWIC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.42% 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 35%, 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 35%.
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 | SWIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 35% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
293 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
184 transferred to another institution.
SWIC lost contact with the remaining 102 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.39% |
| Transferred | 184 | 62.80% |
| Dropped Out | 102 | 34.81% |
482 SWIC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 17.51% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 21%, 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 21%.
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 | SWIC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 21% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 37.80% |
381 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
201 transferred to another institution.
SWIC lost contact with the remaining 172 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.10% |
| Transferred | 201 | 52.76% |
| Dropped Out | 172 | 45.14% |
