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Among two-year schools across the nation, Frontier Community College (FCC) has been reported as having the highest “on time” graduation rate in the State of Illinois. Of the 876 public institutions included in the report, FCC was ranked 11th highest in the nation with a 62% completion rate.
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a newspaper and website that reports on college and university affairs. They recently published a report titled “2-Year Colleges With the Best 3-Year Graduation Rates.” To determine on-time graduation rates, the Chronicle compared the adjusted student cohort with those who completed their degree within 150% of the expected time. The report utilized data from 2017.
“Completion rate, or graduation rate, is a very important metric in higher education,” said Dr. Jay Edgren, President of FCC. “In some ways, it’s a general indicator of the overall health of the institution. If we’re doing things right, our students will want to complete their degree or certificate with us. Being recognized by The Chronicle, which is one of the most highly regarded publications in higher education, is a testament that we’re meeting some of these goals.”
This is the second consecutive year that FCC has reported the highest on-time graduation rate in Illinois. In a report published by SE Illinois News, 2016 data from the Department of Education indicated a 61% on-time graduation rate.
“We are very proud to be ranked first in Illinois and 11th in the nation for on-time graduation rates,” said Dr. Paul Bruinsma, Dean of Instruction. “This accomplishment shows our staff and faculty’s commitment to helping students reach their educational goals.”
The Southern Illinois region had strong representation in The Chronicle’s recent report. Joining FCC in the top 25 institutions were Olney Central College (#14, 58.5%), Rend Lake College (#16, 57.8%), and Wabash Valley College (#21, 54.7%).
“This year, our focus is on campus beautification,” said Edgren. “We are targeting our landscaping and signage, because the appearance of our campus needs to mirror the same quality that students receive in the classroom and in interactions with staff and faculty. We want our communities to be proud of all aspects of our college environment.”
