Do Students Succeed at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
Student success metrics for J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville, AL: graduation, transfer, and retention data.
Student Success at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College at a Glance
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Huntsville, AL. Current enrollment is 1,187 students.
- 14% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 23.9% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 7% of exiters from its largest program (Associate Degree Nursing (RN)- AAS) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $11,654 per quarter after exiting Associate Degree Nursing (RN)- AAS
- 331 graduates across 44 programs in 2025
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 114 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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing (RN)- AAS | 52% | 7% | 11% | $11,654 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 100% | — | — | — |
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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
23.9%
Working Student Success
33%
Transfer Out Rate
16.1%
Still Enrolled Rate
1%
How J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Compares
Completion runs at 24% at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College, lower than what most peer trade schools report. 1% of students are still enrolled, so the long-run picture may improve as cohorts mature. Prospective students should look closely at retention services and ask whether program structures match their schedule and circumstances.
What Happens After Students Enroll at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered J. F. Drake State Community and Technical 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.
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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical 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 students have an advantage of 17.0 percentage points over transfer students, which may reflect the benefits of starting fresh at the institution.
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 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
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 (33% vs 17.8% 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 at J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 547 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Part-time Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
Part-time Non-first-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.