Graduation and Transfer
Graduation rates are calculated for a defined group of students, called a cohort, whose progress is followed over time. Because some students transfer before earning a credential, both graduation and transfer rates are presented to provide a comprehensive view of student outcomes.
The cohort includes first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students who start in the fall. Students are tracked for 150% of their program length. For example, a 2-year degree-seeking student is tracked for three years where a 1-year certificate seeking student is tracked for 1.5 years. As a result, the graduation rate includes students who complete either degrees or certificates.
| Fall Cohort | 2017 by 2020 | 2018 by 2021 | 2019 by 2022 | 2020 by 2023 | 2021 by 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation (150% time) | 20.1% | 17.8% | 17.8% | 17.7% | 18.4% |
| Transfer (no degree) | 19.0% | 17.1% | 20.6% | 27.1% | 20.1% |
| Combined Graduation and Transfer | 39.1% | 34.9% | 38.4% | 44.7% | 38.5% |
- The fall 2021 cohort graduation rate is slightly higher than the previous three cohorts.
- The transfer rate is lower than the record-high 2020 cohort.
- The combined graduation and transfer rate for the fall 2021 cohort is within the typical range of previous years, with the exception of 2020.
Equity Gaps by Sex
Equity gap refers to any disparity along racial, socioeconomic, gender or other demographic grouping. These gaps lead the college to ask “what processes, policies or practices are in place that create or exacerbate these disparities? ”
| 2021 Cohort by Sex | Range (low to high) | Equity Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation | 17.8% to 19.1% (female to male) | 1.3% points |
| Transfer | 18.1% to 21.9% (male to female) | 3.8% points |
| Combined Grad and Transfer | 37.2% to 39.7% (male to female) | 2.7% points |
- Equity gaps by sex remain fairly narrow.
- Males most recently graduated at a higher rate than females, while females had a higher transfer rate.
- However, these patterns vary by cohort and are not consistent from year to year.
*Equity Gaps by Race/Ethnicity
| 2021 Cohort by Race/Ethnicity | Range (low to high) | Equity Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation | 13.0% to 25.3% (Black/African American to Asian ) | 12.3% points |
| Transfer | 15.2% to 26.3% (Hispanic/Latino to 2 or More Races) | 11.1% points |
| Combined Grad and Transfer | 29.4% to 48.4% (Hispanic/Latino to Asian) | 19.0% points |
| *Equity gaps are based on groups with 20 or more members | ||
- Equity gaps persist across racial and ethnic groups in both graduation and transfer rates.
- The 2021 cohort of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students and student identifying with two or more races had higher combined rates compared to the previous two cohorts.
- All other groups had rates which were similar to or lower than previous years.
| Race/Ethnicity Group | Combined Graduation Transfer Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cohort | 2020 Cohort | 2021 Cohort | |
| American Indian/Alaska Native (n=12) | 29.4% | 25.0% | 16.7% |
| Asian (n=186) | 47.4% | 51.4% | 48.4% |
| Black or African American (n=100) | 30.1% | 47.8% | 32.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (n=571) | 30.4% | 30.4% | 29.4% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (n=12) | 31.8% | 5.3% | 33.3% |
| Two or more races (n=160) | 40.6% | 42.5% | 46.9% |
| Not Reported (n=93) | 32.5% | 44.7% | 46.2% |
| White (n=1,040) | 43.1% | 50.2% | 40.6% |
Data Source: Integrated Postsecondary Data System, Graduation Rates Report, 2024-25 IPEDS Reporting Cycle