CSU Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Charleston Southern University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding CSU 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.

• CSU Retention Rate
• CSU Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• CSU Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

CSU Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, CSU 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%.

CSU Graduation Rates

There were approximately 487 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 36% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 44% of the students had graduated and after eight years 45% 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 CSU graduation rate 44%.

CSU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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.

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CSU Drop Out Rate

Approximately 603 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 603 students who did not complete their degree?

• 8 are still enrolled.

• 413 transferred to another institution.

• CSU lost contact with the remaining 185 who we assumed dropped out.

CSU Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 CSU 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 CSU Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Charleston Southern University represent 65.91% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the CSU graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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.

CSU First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

399 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 4 are still enrolled.

• 283 transferred to another institution.

• CSU lost contact with the remaining 112 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Charleston Southern University represent 0.09% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the CSU graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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.

First-Time / Part-Time CSU Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

1 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• CSU lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Charleston Southern University represent 28.48% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the CSU graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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.

CSU Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

160 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 114 transferred to another institution.

• CSU lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at Charleston Southern University represent 5.52% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the CSU graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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.

CSU Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time CSU Drop Out Rates

43 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 16 transferred to another institution.

• CSU lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By CharlestonSouthern under License