by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Union County College? 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 64% students making it past their freshmen year, Union County 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 New Jersey, the average is 74.83%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Union County College | 64% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New Jersey | 74.83% |
There were approximately 711 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 13% of the cohort graduated. After six years 20% had completed their degree, and 22% after eight years.
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 Union County College graduation rate 20%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 488 | 13% |
| Six Years | 711 | 20% |
| Eight Years | 100 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,806 | 78% |
Approximately 2806 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2806 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
936 transferred to another institution.
Union County College lost contact with the remaining 1762 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 936 | 33.4% |
| Dropped Out | 1,762 | 62.8% |
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 Union County 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 Union County College represent 63% of the students in the class of 2015, and 61.74% of Union County College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time students in the Union County College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Union County College graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Union County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 19% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 47.82% |
1759 first-time / full-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
453 transferred to another institution.
Union County College lost contact with the remaining 1234 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 453 | 25.75% |
| Dropped Out | 1,234 | 70.15% |
First-time / part-time students at Union County College represent 16.01% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the Union County 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 15%.
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 | Union County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 7% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
492 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
21 are still enrolled.
180 transferred to another institution.
Union County College lost contact with the remaining 291 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 21 | 4.27% |
| Transferred | 180 | 36.59% |
| Dropped Out | 291 | 59.15% |
355 Union County College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.81% 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 25%, 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 28%.
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 | Union County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 25% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 55.07% |
255 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
132 transferred to another institution.
Union County College lost contact with the remaining 116 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.75% |
| Transferred | 132 | 51.76% |
| Dropped Out | 116 | 45.49% |
421 Union County College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.64% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 26%, 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 29%.
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 | Union County College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 26% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
300 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
171 transferred to another institution.
Union County College lost contact with the remaining 121 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.67% |
| Transferred | 171 | 57.00% |
| Dropped Out | 121 | 40.33% |
