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