Institutional Effectiveness

Regional 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.

The regional peer group consists of six community colleges. Fall 2021 to fall 2022 full-time student retention rates among regional peers ranged from 55% to 70% with four peer colleges reporting a higher retention rate than PCC. The retention of students enrolled part-time ranged from 28% to 47% and five colleges reported higher retention rates than PCC.

Full-time first time in college fall students enrolled the following fall
Fall Student Cohort Peer Range (low to high) PCC Retention Peers w/higher rates
2021 (to 2022) 55%  –  70% 56% 4 colleges
2020 (to 2021) 53%  –  68% 61% 1 college
2019 (to 2020) 55%  –  63% 62% 1 college
2018 (to 2019) 58%  – 66% 65% 1 college
2017 (to 2018) 58%  –  69% 63% 2 colleges
Part-time first time in college fall students enrolled the following fall
Fall Student Cohort Peer Range (low to high) PCC Retention Peers w/higher rates
2021 (to 2022) 28%  –  47% 34% 5 colleges
2020 (to 2021) 27%  –  50% 37% 3 colleges
2019 (to 2020) 24%  –  48% 41% 1 college
2018 (to 2019) 20%  – 45% 44% 2 colleges
2017 (to 2018) 23%  –  45% 45% 0 colleges

Data Source: IPEDS, Fall Enrollment Reports