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
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
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
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
^ 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
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