Staff
Leslie Weinsheim
Director-Institutional Research, Planning & Development
Benchmarking
Bench-marking is a process where college performance is measured and compared using many indicators in order to assess effectiveness and promote student success.
The U.S. Department of Education-National Center for Education Statistics maintains IPEDS (Integrated Post-Secondary Data Collection System), which collects data from colleges through a series of surveys each academic year and this data is then used in a variety of ways. The primary way the data is used is by providing interested parties the ability to make more informed choices about college by comparing data in areas like cost, size, location and demographics.
Another way this data can be used is for bench-marking which allows colleges to create a comparison group of similar colleges in order to benchmark in several achievement areas including retention and graduation.
The comparison group for Northeastern is made up of 14 community colleges throughout the United States. This group was selected for the 2021 benchmarking by using a process called statistical distance measuring where 12 month enrollment size, fall enrollment size, dorm status and number of full-time students was used to find the best statistical match to Northeastern.
The first three tables show the overall demographic comparisons between Northeastern and the comparison group for all students. The remaining tables show comparisons for degrees awarded and retention and graduation rates.
The U.S. Department of Education-National Center for Education Statistics maintains IPEDS (Integrated Post-Secondary Data Collection System), which collects data from colleges through a series of surveys each academic year and this data is then used in a variety of ways. The primary way the data is used is by providing interested parties the ability to make more informed choices about college by comparing data in areas like cost, size, location and demographics.
Another way this data can be used is for bench-marking which allows colleges to create a comparison group of similar colleges in order to benchmark in several achievement areas including retention and graduation.
The comparison group for Northeastern is made up of 14 community colleges throughout the United States. This group was selected for the 2021 benchmarking by using a process called statistical distance measuring where 12 month enrollment size, fall enrollment size, dorm status and number of full-time students was used to find the best statistical match to Northeastern.
The first three tables show the overall demographic comparisons between Northeastern and the comparison group for all students. The remaining tables show comparisons for degrees awarded and retention and graduation rates.
Source: U.S. Department of Education National Center of Education Statistics
NOTE: The totals do not always add up to 100% in the comparison group due to the methodologies used to calculate the median range.
Race/Ethnicity (All Students) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2022 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
American Indian/Alaska Native | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
Asian | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
Black or African American | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 5% |
Hispanic | 13% | 9% | 14% | 9% | 18% | 10% | 17% | 9% | 17% | 9% | 16% | 9% |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
White Non-Hispanic | 70% | 64% | 71% | 65% | 68% | 63% | 72% | 61% | 72% | 65% | 72% | 63% |
Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Unknown Race/ Ethnicity | 5% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Non-Resident (International) | 4% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 2% |
Northeastern has a higher percentage of Hispanic and White Non-Hispanic students than the comparison group.
Percentage of Females (All Students) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2022 | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
Female | 55% | 59% | 57% | 59% | 55% | 60% | 59% | 61% | 58% | 60% | 64% | 60% |
The comparison group has had a slightly higher percentage of females than Northeastern until 2022.
Unduplicated 12 Month Headcount, FTE, and Full-Time/Part-Time Enrollment | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2022 | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
Unduplicated Headcount | 2,285 | 2,413 | 2,220 | 2,463 | 2,227 | 2,459 | 1,981 | 2,298 | 1,732 | 1,782 | 1,814 | 1,765 |
FTE (full-time equivalent) | 1,250 | 1,169 | 1,150 | 1,180 | 1,104 | 1,092 | 991 | 1,053 | 905 | 876 | 924 | 849 |
Full-Time Enrollment | 896 | 723 | 851 | 725 | 790 | 716 | 757 | 808 | 758 | 665 | 760 | 604 |
Part-Time Enrollment | 651 | 977 | 641 | 921 | 600 | 982 | 1,224 | 1,480 | 974 | 1,069 | 1,054 | 1,135 |
Northeastern's headcount over the 12 month period has been slightly smaller than the comparison group until 2022.
Northeastern has a slightly higher number of full-time enrollments and a slightly smaller number of part-time enrollments; and Northeastern has higher FTE than the comparison group.
Unduplicated headcount and FTE is measured for the academic year (summer, fall, and spring semesters combined), while full and part time enrollment is measured for the fall semester.
Degrees and Certificates Awarded | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | | 2018 | | 2019 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2022 | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
Associate's | 273 | 259 | 328 | 238 | 293 | 229 | 269 | 230 | 249 | 217 | 215 | 223 |
Certificates (at least 1 yr but less than 2) | 54 | 65 | 59 | 69 | 68 | 64 | 84 | 55 | 56 | 41 | 56 | 46 |
Certificates (less than 1 yr) | 347 | 75 | 307 | 48 | 319 | 68 | 177 | 47 | 307 | 18 | 273 | 25 |
Northeastern awards more Associate degrees than the comparison group and significantly more certificates of less than one year until 2022 where for the first time, Northeastern is slightly behind; however, Northeastern still dominates in awarding many more certificates. The large difference in certificates of less than one year may be due to what are known as stackable certificates that are awarded along with Associate of Applied Science degrees for Career and Technical programs at Northeastern.
Retention Rate | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-Fall 2016 Cohort | | 2018-Fall 2017 Cohort | | 2019-Fall 2018 Cohort | | 2020-Fall 2019 Cohort | | 2021-Fall 2020 Cohort | | 2022-Fall 2021 Cohort | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
Full-Time, First-Time Degree Seeking | 59% | 57% | 63% | 61% | 65% | 57% | 66% | 59% | 66% | 60% | 68% | 61% |
Part-Time, First-Time Degree Seeking | 27% | 33% | 21% | 37% | 46% | 42% | 18% | 38% | 22% | 34% | 28% | 42% |
Northeastern has a higher retention percentage for full-time, first-time students than the comparison group. Retention rates are measured from the first fall enrollment to the following fall enrollment.
Cohort is defined as: All students that are new first time enrolled for the fall semester. Full and part time cohorts are tracked separately and only degree seeking students are counted.
Graduation and Transfer Out Rates | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-Fall 2014 Cohort | | 2018-Fall 2015 Cohort | | 2019-Fall 2016 Cohort | | 2020-Fall 2017 Cohort | | 2021-Fall 2018 Cohort | | 2022-Fall 2019 Cohort | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
Graduation Rate | 38% | 35% | 46% | 39% | 48% | 38% | 48% | 40% | 52% | 40% | 51% | 37% |
Transfer Out Rate | 17% | 20% | 12% | 19% | 13% | 16% | 12% | 16% | 8% | 14% | 10% | 15% |
Northeastern has higher graduation rates and lower transfer out rates than the comparison group. Graduation rates are measured by tracking the cohort of full-time, first-time degree seeking students during the three year period beginning with the first fall enrollment to completion of program. This three year period is also known as 150% time to completion and is the standard used by the U.S. Department of Education.
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-Fall 2014 Cohort | | 2018-Fall 2015 Cohort | | 2019-Fall 2016 Cohort | | 2020-Fall 2017 Cohort | | 2021-Fall 2018 Cohort | | 2022-Fall 2019 Cohort | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
American Indian/Alaska Native | 33% | 40% | 33% | 12% | 20% | 17% | 25% | 50% | 0% | 7% | 100% | 25% |
Asian | 100% | 29% | 100% | 25% | 80% | 33% | 100% | 15% | 50% | 29% | 100% | 0% |
Black or African American | 6% | 22% | 17% | 30% | 19% | 24% | 35% | 27% | 17% | 19% | 31% | 20% |
Hispanic | 29% | 35% | 31% | 29% | 26% | 34% | 24% | 33% | 43% | 33% | 36% | 29% |
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 50% | 0% | 17% | 50% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | |
White Non-Hispanic | 47% | 38% | 53% | 41% | 58% | 42% | 57% | 45% | 57% | 43% | 57% | 38% |
Two or More Races | 38% | 30% | 13% | 28% | 28% | 21% | 20% | 33% | 67% | 33% | 53% | 44% |
Unknown Race/ Ethnicity | 43% | 37% | 54% | 33% | 67% | 47% | 36% | 28% | 67% | 33% | 75% | 42% |
Non-Resident (International) | 50% | 37% | 50% | 45% | 38% | 43% | 36% | 53% | 46% | 48% | 57% | 40% |
Graduation rates for Northeastern in 2022 are higher for all but one ethnicity than the comparison group.
Graduation Rates by Type of Financial Aid | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-Fall 2014 Cohort | | 2018-Fall 2015 Cohort | | 2019-Fall 2016 Cohort | | 2020-Fall 2017 Cohort | | 2021-Fall 2018 Cohort | | 2022-Fall 2019 Cohort | |
| Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp | Northeastern | Comparison Grp |
PELL Grant Recipients | 34% | 29% | 32% | 33% | 41% | 32% | 39% | 37% | 50% | 35% | 48% | 33% |
Subsidized Stafford Loan (did not receive PELL) | 51% | 33% | 48% | 38% | 47% | 36% | 53% | 37% | 56% | 32% | 42% | 38% |
Neither PELL nor Stafford | 40% | 41% | 60% | 42% | 55% | 46% | 56% | 41% | 54% | 43% | 58% | 42% |
Northeastern has higher graduation rates for PELL grant recipients than the comparison group for four of the five years. Northeastern has higher graduation rates for Stafford loan recipients than for the comparison group.