Student Outcomes

Success rates, completion statistics, and student outcome metrics for Harrisburg Area Community College

Harrisburg, PA

Overall Completion Rate

21.3%

Working Student Success

23.6%

Transfer Out Rate

33.2%

Still Enrolled Rate

1.5%

What Happens After Students Enroll?

Eight-Year Student Outcomes

Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Harrisburg Area Community College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.

15.3%
23.5%
59.9%
Completed
15.3%
1,373 students
Still Enrolled
1.2%
110 students
Transferred Out
23.5%
2,110 students
No Award
59.9%
5,373 students

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 38.8% 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 Student Transfer and Continuation Patterns?

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.

First-Time Students(1,852 cohort size)
25.0%
25.0% completed
29.0% transferred to other institutions
Transfer-In Students(851 cohort size)
26.0%
26.0% completed
43.0% transferred again to other institutions
Continuing Students(2,457 cohort size)
15.0%
15.0% completed

Key Insights

First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.

Combined 36.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.

Cohort Composition

1,852
First-Time
851
Transfer-In
2,457
Continuing

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

Full-time Students
19%
Part-time Students
23.6%
First-time Students
24.7%
Transfer Students
23.5%

What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (23.6% vs 19% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.

What are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time

Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 6,746 students

After 4 Years

123
Certificates
786
Associate Degrees
909
Total Awards
13%
Completion Rate

After 6 Years

144
Certificates
1,107
Associate Degrees
1,251
Total Awards
19%
Completion Rate

After 8 Years (Final)

152
Certificates
1,221
Associate Degrees
1,373
Total Awards
20%
Completion Rate

Final Student Status

20%
Graduated
2%
Still Enrolled Here
31%
Enrolled Elsewhere
0%
Status Unknown

Completion Breakdown by Cohort

Part-time First-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 444
8-Year Rate: 29%

Part-time First-time Students

Cohort Size: 914
8-Year Rate: 28%

All First-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 850
8-Year Rate: 26%

All First-time Students

Cohort Size: 1,850
8-Year Rate: 25%

Full-time First-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 406
8-Year Rate: 23%

All Part-time Students

Cohort Size: 3,601
8-Year Rate: 23%

Full-time First-time Students

Cohort Size: 936
8-Year Rate: 21%

All Non-first-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 1,594
8-Year Rate: 21%

Time to Completion

Average time: 5 years
Median time: 5 years
Complete on time: 14.8%

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.