Do Students Succeed at Grand Rapids Community College?
A data-driven look at student outcomes at Grand Rapids Community College — completion rates, transfers, and enrollment status.
Student Success at Grand Rapids Community College at a Glance
Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Grand Rapids, MI. Current enrollment is 12,468 students.
- 21.1% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 25.5% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 78% of exiters from its largest program (Business Administration AB (102)) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $10,454 per quarter after exiting Business Administration AB (102)
- 2,109 graduates across 102 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 244 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Grand Rapids Community College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration AB (102) | 51% | 78% | 79% | $10,454 |
| Associate Degree in Nursing | 61% | 87% | 87% | $16,756 |
| Accounting AB (128) | 44% | 81% | 84% | $9,608 |
| Culinary Arts (151) | 14% | 73% | 77% | $8,085 |
| Computer Programing AAAS (149) | 11% | 75% | 79% | $10,795 |
| Marketing (125) | 13% | 71% | 68% | $7,780 |
| Retail Management Certificate (171) | 20% | 43% | 40% | $17,398 |
| Web/UX Design and Development AAAS (160) | 17% | 63% | 64% | $7,790 |
| Management and Supervision AB (127) | 17% | 77% | 84% | $11,374 |
| Network Administration (147) | 26% | 69% | 79% | $9,582 |
| Electrical Controls Engineering Technology AAAS (903) | 15% | 91% | 88% | $20,019 |
| Practical Nursing Certificate (371) | 80% | 96% | 92% | $14,528 |
| Automobile Technology (922) | 8% | 87% | 82% | $8,236 |
| Nurse Assistant | 96% | — | 94% | — |
| Mechanical Design AAAS (904) | 24% | 79% | 85% | $11,026 |
| Child Development (180) | 13% | 84% | 79% | $7,459 |
| Dental Hygiene-394 | 48% | 86% | 89% | $15,286 |
| Welding Technology AAAS (932) | 11% | 85% | 83% | $12,724 |
| Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Certificate (924) | 14% | 79% | 65% | $11,748 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant AAAS (340) | 24% | 90% | 87% | $9,686 |
| Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technology AAAS (912) | 23% | 97% | 91% | $11,524 |
| Pre-Lineworker Training Program | 88% | 100% | 98% | $15,052 |
| Baking and Pastry Arts (156) | 17% | 82% | 83% | $7,694 |
| Tooling and Manufacturing Technology AAAS 908 | 19% | 92% | 95% | $17,617 |
| Welding/Fabrication Technician | 88% | — | — | — |
| Architectural Technology | 8% | 74% | 78% | $8,369 |
| Radiologic Technology AAAS (305) | 68% | 82% | 74% | $13,365 |
| Medical Assistant Program | 85% | 100% | 89% | $8,592 |
| Automotive Technician | 96% | 75% | 79% | $10,012 |
| Construction Electrical | 93% | 88% | 84% | $8,751 |
| Juvenile Services AAAS (153) | — | 72% | 84% | $10,034 |
| Computer Support Technician | 80% | 69% | 83% | $8,769 |
| Automotive Technology (921) | 16% | 75% | 79% | $10,012 |
| Law Enforcement AAAS (809) | 37% | 100% | 92% | $14,753 |
| Welding Certificate (931) | 88% | 88% | 81% | $10,412 |
| Entrepreneurship Certificate (170) | 23% | 68% | 94% | $5,843 |
| Industrial Maintenance Certificate (918) | 36% | 100% | 95% | $21,314 |
| Pharmacy Technician | 80% | — | 64% | — |
| Residential Construction | 100% | 80% | 81% | $8,953 |
| Machinist/CNC Technician | 100% | 83% | 86% | $15,908 |
| Dental Assisting AAAS (393) | 83% | 92% | 89% | $8,535 |
| Mechanical Design Certificate (928) | — | 82% | 85% | $11,414 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Grand Rapids Community College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Grand Rapids Community College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
25.5%
Working Student Success
24.6%
Transfer Out Rate
27.7%
Still Enrolled Rate
2.2%
How Grand Rapids Community College Compares
25% completion at Grand Rapids Community College is mid-pack for the trade-school landscape. The 28% transfer-out rate adds important context — many trade students intentionally use their first credential as a stepping stone to a four-year school, so transfer often signals success rather than dropout.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Grand Rapids Community College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Grand Rapids Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 39.0% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Grand Rapids Community College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 30.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Grand Rapids Community College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (26.8%) compared to part-time students (24.6%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Grand Rapids Community College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 5,330 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.