Tom Dowling
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Polk Community College’s Retention Rate Ranked  8th Among Florida's 28 Community Colleges

01/07/2003: Polk Community College’s retention rate is 8^th among Florida’s 28 community colleges, according to a study by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).

The report released by the Florida Department of Education also shows Florida's community colleges ranked No. 1 in retaining and graduating students compared to 15 other southern states.

The SREB study determines retention rate by taking the percentage of full-time first-time-in-college students still enrolled in the community college and adding that to the percentage of students who have transferred to other institutions within two years.

The study shows that PCC’s retention rate of 77.9 percent exceeds the statewide average of 76 percent. PCC’s 33.2 percent completion rate ranks 13th in the state- above the state average of 29.7 percent. (See chart.)

“This latest achievement indicates that students in Florida are recognizing the value a community college education can provide,” said Secretary Education Secretary Jim Horne. “Florida's community colleges are doing a superb job at preparing students for successful careers in the workforce and for successful matriculation into universities.”

The Southern Regional Education Board report was based on a U.S. Department of Education Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data Systems survey, and a two-year retention study. The report tracked the progression rates, since 1998, of community college students who are still enrolled and those who graduated and transferred to a university.

Go to the chart with the results of the retention study of Florida's community college system.