by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Furman 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 91% students making it past their freshmen year, Furman has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| Furman | 91% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
How many of the estimated 669 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 78% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 85% of the students had graduated and after eight years 85% 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 Furman graduation rate 85%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 615 | 78% |
| Six Years | 669 | 85% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 116 | 15% |
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 116 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 116 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
94 transferred to another institution.
Furman lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.6% |
| Transferred | 94 | 81.0% |
| Dropped Out | 21 | 18.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 88% |
| Black / African-American | 71% |
| Hispanic | 69% |
| International | 70% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 83% |
| Unknown | 83% |
| White | 84% |
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 Furman are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Furman University represent 94.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Furman graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 86% 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 | Furman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 78% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 85% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 47.82% |
108 first-time / full-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
94 transferred to another institution.
Furman lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.93% |
| Transferred | 94 | 87.04% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 12.04% |
At this time we lack data for this cohort at Furman University.
Returning / full-time students at Furman University represent 3.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Furman graduation rate was 93%, and by the eight year mark, 93% 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 | Furman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 93% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 93% | 55.07% |
2 non first-time / part-time students or 7% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Furman lost contact with the remaining 2 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 2 | 100.00% |
Returning / part-time students at Furman University represent 1.52% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Furman graduation rate was 50%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | Furman | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 50% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 37.80% |
6 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Furman lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 100.00% |
