1. Awards Conferred
Goal/Target: Virginia Western will increase the total number of awards conferred by 2% from the previous year.
Threshold of Acceptability: Virginia Western’s maintain the total number of awards conferred from the previous year.
Source: SIS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
| Academic Year | Number of Awards | % Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-2016 | 1,185 | – |
| 2016-2017 | 1,290 | +8.9% |
| 2017-2018 | 1,056 | -18.1% |
| 2018-2019 | 1,211 | +14.7% |
| 2019-2020 | 1,016 | -16.1% |
| 2020-2021 | 1,133 | +11.5% |
| 2021-2022 | 1,184 | +4.5% |
| 2022-2023 | 1,136 | -4.1% |
| 2023-2024 | 1,298 | +14.3% |
| 2024-2025 | 1,372 | +5.7% |
Conclusion: In 2024-2025, VWCC conferred 1,372 awards. This is an increase of 5.7% from the previous year, meeting the goal of increasing awards conferred by 2%.
2. Number of Graduates
Goal/Target: Virginia Western will maintain the total number of graduates from the previous year.
Threshold of Acceptability: Virginia Western’s total number of graduates will be within a -2% change from the previous year.
Source: SIS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
| Academic Year | Number of Graduates | % Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-2016 | 994 | – |
| 2016-2017 | 1,105 | +11.2% |
| 2017-2018 | 976 | -11.7% |
| 2018-2019 | 1,062 | +8.8% |
| 2019-2020 | 898 | -15.4% |
| 2020-2021 | 989 | +10.1% |
| 2021-2022 | 1,012 | +2.3% |
| 2022-2023 | 927 | -8.4% |
| 2023-2024 | 1,035 | +11.7% |
| 2024-2025 | 1,109 | +7.1% |
Conclusion: In 2024-2025, VWCC graduated 1,109 students. This is an increase of 7.1% from the previous year, meeting the goal of maintaining the total number of graduates.
3. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate
Goal/Target: Virginia Western will have an overall cohort graduation rate of 38%*.
Threshold of Acceptability: Virginia Western will have an overall cohort graduation rate of 35%.
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
* Cohort consists of full-time, degree-seeking students with no prior college experience who graduated within federally defined IPEDs rate of 150% of normal graduation time
| Fall Cohort | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 22% |
| 2013 | 27% |
| 2014 | 28% |
| 2015 | 33% |
| 2016 | 32% |
| 2017 | 35% |
| 2018 | 33% |
| 2019 | 33% |
| 2020 | 41% |
| 2021 | 40% |
Conclusion: 40% of Virginia Western’s Fall 2021 cohort graduated within the IPEDS defined 150% normal graduation time. This meets the goal of 38%.
3a. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate by Gender
Goal/Target^: 38% of men and women will graduate within 150% time.
Threshold of Acceptability: 35% of men and women will graduate within 150% time.
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
| Fall Cohort | Overall Graduation Rate | Men Graduation Rate | Women Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35% | 34% | 37% |
| 2018 | 33% | 28% | 37% |
| 2019 | 33% | 34% | 32% |
| 2020 | 41% | 40% | 41% |
| 2021 | 40% | 40% | 40% |
^ Goals for 3a and 3b are based on 5-year averages; threshold of acceptability is 3% below the 5-year average
Conclusion: 40% men and 40% of women in Virginia Western’s Fall 2021 cohort graduated within the IPEDS defined 150% normal graduation time. This meets their respective goals for graduation within 150% time.
3b. Overall Cohort Graduation Rate by Financial Aid Status
Goal/Target^: 32% of students that receive a Pell Grant will graduate within 150% time; 36% of students with a Stafford Loan (no Pell) will graduate within 150% time; and 44% of students that don’t have Pell grants or Stafford loans will graduate within 150% time.
Threshold of Acceptability: 29% of students that receive a Pell Grant will graduate within 150% time; 33% of students with a Stafford Loan (no Pell) will graduate within 150% time; and 41% of students that don’t have Pell grants or Stafford loans will graduate within 150% time.
Source: IPEDS
Frequency of Assessment: Annually
^ Goals for 3a and 3b are based on 5-year averages; threshold of acceptability is 3% below the 5-year average
| Fall Cohort | Overall Graduation Rate | Pell-Grant Recipient Graduation Rate | Stafford Loan, No Pell Grant Graduation Rate | No Pell Grant or Stafford Loan Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35% | 30% | 38% | 42% |
| 2018 | 33% | 27% | 26% | 41% |
| 2019 | 33% | 29% | 32% | 38% |
| 2020 | 41% | 34% | 41% | 47% |
| 2021 | 40% | 33% | 35% | 48% |
Conclusion: Students from the Fall 2021 cohort that receive Pell grants and students that have neither Pell grants or Stafford loans are meeting their respective goals for graduation within 150% time. Students that have Stafford loans but no Pell grants are meeting the threshold of acceptability for this group.
Updated: October 2nd, 2025
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