by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding The Citadel 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 87% students making it past their freshmen year, The Citadel 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 | |
|---|---|
| The Citadel | 87% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 581 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 64% of the cohort graduated. After six years 74% had completed their degree, and 75% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official The Citadel graduation rate 74%.
The typical The Citadel student takes 4.13 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 512 | 65% |
| Six Years | 581 | 74% |
| Eight Years | 9 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 194 | 25% |
Approximately 194 students or 25% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 194 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
122 transferred to another institution.
The Citadel lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 122 | 62.9% |
| Dropped Out | 67 | 34.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 75% |
| Asian | 83% |
| Black / African-American | 61% |
| Hispanic | 72% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 67% |
| Unknown | 50% |
| White | 73% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 The Citadel are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Citadel Military College of South Carolina represent 79% of the students in the class of 2015, and 78.49% of The Citadel bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 64%, first-time students in the The Citadel class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the The Citadel graduation rate was 73%, and by the eight year mark, 74% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | The Citadel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 64% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 73% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
159 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
107 transferred to another institution.
The Citadel lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.26% |
| Transferred | 107 | 67.30% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 30.82% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on The Citadel first-time, part-time students.
103 The Citadel students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.97% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 82%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 83%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | The Citadel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 82% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 55.07% |
18 non first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
10 transferred to another institution.
The Citadel lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 5.56% |
| Transferred | 10 | 55.56% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 38.89% |
60 The Citadel students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 7.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 68%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 72%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | The Citadel | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 68% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 37.80% |
17 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
The Citadel lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 5.88% |
| Transferred | 5 | 29.41% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 64.71% |
