Chesapeake College is proud to share recent achievements in expanding access to education, driving student success, and fostering innovation, as highlighted in the 2024 Performance Accountability Report (PAR). Over the past year, the College has not only met critical benchmarks but also exceeded expectations in key areas, showcasing its commitment to excellence in higher education.

Expanding Access to Education

For the third consecutive year, Chesapeake College has increased its total unduplicated headcount, a promising sign of growth as we reach more students in our region. Even more encouraging, our market share of first-time, full-time freshmen has risen for the first time in three years, reflecting renewed interest from local students seeking high-quality education close to home.

Affordability remains a cornerstone of our mission, with Chesapeake College’s tuition and fees consistently less than half the cost of Maryland’s public four-year institutions. This ensures that higher education remains within reach for more families, providing exceptional value without sacrificing quality.

We are also proud to report that the College has already met important benchmarks in two areas: enrollment of high school students and the expansion of online education. These achievements speak to our dedication to flexible and accessible learning opportunities for all students. Additionally, our Adult Basic Education programs have shown continued improvement for four straight years, underscoring our role in advancing adult education in our community.

Our commitment to diversity is reflected in our student body. The percentage of nonwhite students—both credit and noncredit—continues to regularly exceed the representation of nonwhite individuals in the regional population, demonstrating our efforts to create an inclusive learning environment.

Advancing Student Success

Chesapeake College’s focus on retention and student success has yielded impressive results. Fall-to-fall retention has increased in every category for the past four years. This steady improvement speaks to our comprehensive support systems and the dedication of our faculty and staff in helping students stay on track.

A remarkable 75% of students who attempt 18 credit hours in their first two years are thriving, with many graduating, transferring, or continuing their education with 30 credits and at least a 2.0 GPA after four years. These “successful persisters” represent the growing number of students achieving their academic goals at Chesapeake College. Additionally, our transfer students are excelling, with 93% earning a GPA of 2.0 or higher at their new institutions.

Fostering Innovation in Career Readiness

Chesapeake College continues to lead in innovative approaches to workforce readiness, particularly in our health programs, which have maintained an average licensure pass rate of 85% over the past four years. Graduates from these programs are not only passing their exams but also stepping into careers with strong earning potential.

Further reflecting our success in career development, 93% of career program graduates are employed within a year of graduation, with their wages increasing by an extraordinary 149% between one year before graduation and three years after. These numbers highlight the transformative impact of our programs on the lives of our students and the local economy.

Looking Ahead

The accomplishments highlighted in the 2024 Performance Accountability Report are a testament to Chesapeake College’s unwavering dedication to providing accessible, affordable, and innovative education. As we continue to meet and exceed benchmarks, we are excited about the future and the opportunities we are creating for students across our region.