Central Alabama Community College (CACC) strives to ensure its students has a successful educational outcome. In doing so, CACC uses the following success measures: (1) graduation/completion rates, (2) persistence and retention rates, (3) early momentum key performance indicators, and (4) transfer-out rates.
GRADUATION/COMPLETION METRICS
Studies show that college graduates (1) earn significantly more money throughout their lifetime than those with only a high school education, (2) tend to have skills that qualify them for a broad range of employment opportunities, and (3) have better job security.
In order to determine whether CACC students are completing their program of study similarly to other two-year institutions on a national level, CACC compares its completion metrics using the National Student Clearinghouse® (NSC) Total Six-Year Completion Rate against the national benchmark of students who started at two-year public institutions.
SIX-YEAR OUTCOMES AND FIRST COMPLETION RATE - NSC*
*SACSCOC Student Completion Indicator
Goal: CACC expects performance on this measure to meet or exceed the national rate for two-year public colleges.
| COHORT | CACC RATE | NATIONAL RATE | DIFFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2016 | 42.48% | 43.08% | -0.60% |
| Fall 2015 | 42.24% | 42.17% | +0.07% |
| Fall 2014 | 39.29% | 40.28% | -0.99% |
| Fall 2013 | 36.00% | 40.76% | -4.76% |
| Fall 2012 | 37.82% | 39.22% | -1.40% |
| Fall 2011 | 31.21% | 37.53% | -6.32% |
| Fall 2010 | 29.64% | 39.29% | -9.65% |
The College closely monitors annual completions at the institutional level. A breakdown of the number of degrees and embedded certificates awarded by CACC is included below.
NUMBER OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE COMPLETIONS
Goal: CACC expects performance on this measure to exceed the total number of degrees and certificates awarded from the previous year.
| ACADEMIC YEAR | AS | AAS | AOT | CER | STC | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | 113 | 78 | 18 | 49 | 217 | 475 |
| 2020-2021 | 108 | 60 | 21 | 71 | 99 | 359 |
| 2019-2020 | 114 | 78 | 20 | 57 | 380 | 649 |
| 2018-2019 | 123 | 79 | 22 | 76 | 279 | 579 |
| 2017-2018 | 125 | 56 | 28 | 94 | 154 | 457 |
| 2016-2017 | 139 | 73 | 19 | 79 | 65 | 375 |
| 2015-2016 | 145 | 95 | 18 | 94 | 208 | 560 |
| 2014-2015 | 104 | 124 | 13 | 53 | 18 | 312 |
| 2013-2014 | 157 | 60 | 7 | 34 | 21 | 279 |
RETENTION/PERSISTENCE RATES
Course completion is an important component of student success and is directly tied to persistence and retention. CACC uses the National Student Clearinghouse® (NSC) Institutional Persistence and Retention Report in comparing its overall persistence and retention rates with the national results for two-year public institutions.
OVERALL PERSISTENCE RATE – NSC
Goal: CACC expects performance on this measure to meet or exceed the national rate for two-year public colleges.
| COHORT | CACC RATE | NATIONAL RATE | DIFFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2019 | 57.57% | 59.35% | -1.78% |
| Fall 2018 | 68.21% | 62.81% | +5.40% |
| Fall 2017 | 60.83% | 62.21% | -1.38% |
| Fall 2016 | 66.48% | 62.66% | +3.82% |
| Fall 2015 | 66.93% | 62.88% | +4.05% |
| Fall 2014 | 63.87% | 61.05% | +2.82% |
OVERALL RETENTION RATE – NSC
Goal: CACC expects performance on this measure to meet or exceed the national rate for two-year public colleges.
| COHORT | CACC RATE | NATIONAL RATE | DIFFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2019 | 52.70% | 52.94% | -0.24% |
| Fall 2018 | 58.38% | 55.07% | +3.31% |
| Fall 2017 | 53.28% | 54.39% | -1.11% |
| Fall 2016 | 58.52% | 54.65% | +3.87% |
| Fall 2015 | 59.06% | 54.71% | +4.35% |
| Fall 2014 | 57.34% | 53.16% | +4.18% |
Transfer-Out Rate
A large percentage of CACC students indicate plans to transfer to a 2-year specialized program or 4-year college or university to complete degree requirements. Therefore, the College monitors the transfer-out rates of students using the NSC StudentTrackerSM Tracking Transfer Institutional Benchmark Report. This report focuses on the cohort of first-time students who started their postsecondary studies at CACC in a specific cohort year and tracks their transfer and completion patterns at four-year institutions over a period of six years.
Goal: CACC expects performance on this measure to meet or exceed the national rate for two-year public colleges.
| COHORT | CACC RATE | NATIONAL RATE | DIFFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2015 | 35.19% | 31.63% | +3.56% |
| Fall 2014 | 35.39% | 30.84% | +4.55% |
| Fall 2013 | 34.05% | 30.74% | +3.31% |
| Fall 2012 | 34.21% | 30.22% | +3.99% |
| Fall 2011 | 29.82% | 29.26% | +0.56% |
| Fall 2010 | 28.38% | 31.53% | -3.15% |
Key Terms:
Cohort is defined as first-time degree-seeking students who began their postsecondary studies in the Fall term of the cohort year.
Overall Total Completion Rate (Six-Year Outcomes and First Completion) is defined as the Percentage of First-time-in-college degree-seeking students by cohort year who were awarded an educational credential.
Retention Rate is defined as continued enrollment (or degree completion) within the same higher education institution in the fall semesters of a student’s first and second year.
Persistence Rate is defined as continued enrollment (or degree completion) at any higher education institution in the fall semesters of a student’s first and second year.
Transfer-Out Rate includes the cohort of students who began at Central Alabama Community College and tracks their transfer and completion patterns at four-year institutions over a period of six years.
Completion Rates
Fall 2010 Completions Report
Fall 2011 Completions Report
Fall 2012 Completions Report
Fall 2013 Completions Report
Fall 2014 Completions Report
Fall 2015 Completions Report
Fall 2016 Completions Report
Persistence & Retention Rates
Persistence and Retention Report - Fall 2014 to 2019.pdf
Transfer-Out Rates
Transfer Tracking Report - Fall 2010
Transfer Tracking Report - Fall 2011
Transfer Tracking Report - Fall 2012
Transfer Tracking Report - Fall 2013
Transfer Tracking Report - Fall 2014
Transfer Tracking Report - Fall 2015