National Peers – Retention
The continued enrollment of new to college students from their first fall term to the second fall term helps students maintain academic momentum, a leading indicator of subsequent goal completion. Most recently, 56% of PCC first time in college credential-seeking students who were enrolled full-time fall in 2021, returned to PCC in fall 2022.
PCC’s national peer group consists of ten community colleges. Fall 2021 to fall 2022 full-time student retention rates among national peers ranged from a low of 56% to a high of 68%. All peer colleges reported higher retention rates than did PCC at 56%. The retention rate among students enrolled part-time ranged from 34% to 51%, with all peer colleges having higher retention rates than PCC.
| Fall Student Cohort | Peer Range (low to high) | PCC Retention | Peers w/higher rates than PCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (to 2022) | 56% – 68% | 56% | 10 colleges |
| 2020 (to 2021) | 55% – 68% | 61% | 5 colleges |
| 2019 (to 2020) | 42% – 70% | 62% | 4 colleges |
| 2018 (to 2019) | 57% – 73% | 65% | 4 colleges |
| 2017 (to 2018) | 56% – 73% | 63% | 6 colleges |
| 2016 (to 2017) | 58% – 74% | 67% | 4 colleges |
| 2015 (to 2016) | 57% – 72% | 63% | 6 colleges |
| Fall Student Cohort | Peer Range (low to high) | PCC Retention | Peers w/higher rates than PCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (to 2022) | 34% – 51% | 34% | 9 colleges |
| 2020 (to 2021) | 37% – 52% | 37% | 9 colleges |
| 2019 (to 2020) | 29% – 51% | 41% | 6 colleges |
| 2018 (to 2019) | 35% – 61% | 44% | 7 colleges |
| 2017 (to 2018) | 23% – 58% | 45% | 7 colleges |
| 2016 (to 2017) | 25% – 57% | 47% | 6 colleges |
| 2015 (to 2016) | 24% – 58% | 49% | 5 colleges |
Data Source: IPEDS, Fall Enrollment Reports