Student Outcomes

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

Reading, PA

Overall Completion Rate

25.7%

Working Student Success

31.4%

Transfer Out Rate

26.6%

Still Enrolled Rate

3.7%

What Happens After Students Enroll?

Eight-Year Student Outcomes

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

17.0%
18.4%
61.3%
Completed
17.0%
351 students
Still Enrolled
3.3%
69 students
Transferred Out
18.4%
380 students
No Award
61.3%
1,269 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 35.4% 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(360 cohort size)
30.0%
30.0% completed
21.0% transferred to other institutions
Transfer-In Students(147 cohort size)
31.0%
31.0% completed
31.0% transferred again to other institutions
Continuing Students(746 cohort size)
13.0%
13.0% completed

Key Insights

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

Combined 26.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.

Cohort Composition

360
First-Time
147
Transfer-In
746
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
21.2%
Part-time Students
31.4%
First-time Students
31%
Transfer Students
30.3%

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 (31.4% vs 21.2% 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 1,620 students

After 4 Years

16
Certificates
250
Associate Degrees
266
Total Awards
16%
Completion Rate

After 6 Years

25
Certificates
299
Associate Degrees
324
Total Awards
20%
Completion Rate

After 8 Years (Final)

27
Certificates
324
Associate Degrees
351
Total Awards
22%
Completion Rate

Final Student Status

22%
Graduated
4%
Still Enrolled Here
23%
Enrolled Elsewhere
0%
Status Unknown

Completion Breakdown by Cohort

Part-time First-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 54
8-Year Rate: 41%

Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 142
8-Year Rate: 37%

Part-time First-time Students

Cohort Size: 98
8-Year Rate: 34%

All First-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 146
8-Year Rate: 31%

All First-time Students

Cohort Size: 358
8-Year Rate: 30%

All Part-time Students

Cohort Size: 436
8-Year Rate: 30%

Full-time First-time Students

Cohort Size: 260
8-Year Rate: 29%

All Non-first-time Transfer Students

Cohort Size: 371
8-Year Rate: 27%

Time to Completion

Average time: 5 years
Median time: 5 years
Complete on time: 20.9%

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.