by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Central Carolina retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 53% students making it past their freshmen year, Central Carolina has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in South Carolina, the average is 65.91%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Central Carolina | 53% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 224 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 19% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 22% of the students had graduated and after eight years 24% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Central Carolina graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 195 | 19% |
| Six Years | 224 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 21 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 771 | 76% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 771 students or 76% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 771 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
221 transferred to another institution.
Central Carolina lost contact with the remaining 531 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 221 | 28.7% |
| Dropped Out | 531 | 68.9% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at Central Carolina are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at Central Carolina Technical College represent 54.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Carolina graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 27% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Central Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 47.82% |
406 first-time / full-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
138 transferred to another institution.
Central Carolina lost contact with the remaining 255 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 3.20% |
| Transferred | 138 | 33.99% |
| Dropped Out | 255 | 62.81% |
First-time / part-time students at Central Carolina Technical College represent 32.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Carolina graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 15% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Central Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
284 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
54 transferred to another institution.
Central Carolina lost contact with the remaining 225 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.76% |
| Transferred | 54 | 19.01% |
| Dropped Out | 225 | 79.23% |
Returning / full-time students at Central Carolina Technical College represent 5.28% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Carolina graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Central Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 55.07% |
35 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
15 transferred to another institution.
Central Carolina lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 15 | 42.86% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 57.14% |
Returning / part-time students at Central Carolina Technical College represent 7.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Central Carolina graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 37% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Central Carolina | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 34% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
46 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
Central Carolina lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.17% |
| Transferred | 14 | 30.43% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 67.39% |
