Virginia Community College System

Program Alignment & Performance: Completion

Chart (A1) | How are retention and graduation rates trending over time?



Undergraduate Freshman FTIC Cohort1 Retention Rate2 and Graduation Rates

RateAnnual growth3
(2015-20)
Grad within 4 years4.6%
Grad within 3 years5.2%
Grad within 2 years8.0%
Following Term Retention-0.7%

  Graduated within 2 years

  Graduated within 3 years

  Graduated within 4 years

  Following Term Retention




1. First time in college freshmen cohorts.
2. Percent of first year students retained for the following term.
3. "Annual growth" calculated as compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
Source: SCHEV Research Sub-Cohort Retention and Completion Rate Trends report.