by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding VHCC 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 51% students making it past their freshmen year, VHCC 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 Virginia, the average is 69.66%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| VHCC | 51% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Virginia | 69.66% |
How many of the estimated 217 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
31% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 28% in six years, and 29% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of VHCC is 28%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 190 | 25% |
| Six Years | 217 | 28% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 541 | 71% |
Approximately 541 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 541 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
140 transferred to another institution.
VHCC lost contact with the remaining 386 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 140 | 25.9% |
| Dropped Out | 386 | 71.3% |
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 VHCC 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 Virginia Highlands Community College represent 49% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.06% of VHCC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 31%, first-time students in the VHCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the VHCC graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | VHCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 47.82% |
242 first-time / full-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
VHCC lost contact with the remaining 165 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 70 | 28.93% |
| Dropped Out | 165 | 68.18% |
First-time / part-time students at Virginia Highlands Community College represent 16.58% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the VHCC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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 | VHCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
104 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
VHCC lost contact with the remaining 78 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 3.85% |
| Transferred | 22 | 21.15% |
| Dropped Out | 78 | 75.00% |
122 VHCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.93% 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 36%, 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 36%.
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 | VHCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 36% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 36% | 55.07% |
78 non first-time / part-time students or 64% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
23 transferred to another institution.
VHCC lost contact with the remaining 53 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 23 | 29.49% |
| Dropped Out | 53 | 67.95% |
145 VHCC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.93% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 19%, 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 19%.
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 | VHCC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 37.80% |
117 non first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
VHCC lost contact with the remaining 90 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.71% |
| Transferred | 25 | 21.37% |
| Dropped Out | 90 | 76.92% |
