by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Clemson 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 94% students making it past their freshmen year, Clemson 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 | |
|---|---|
| Clemson | 94% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
How many of the estimated 3,519 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
59% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 80% in six years, and 81% in 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 Clemson graduation rate 80%.
The typical Clemson student takes 4.32 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,756 | 63% |
| Six Years | 3,519 | 80% |
| Eight Years | 39 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 823 | 19% |
Approximately 823 students or 19% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 823 students who did not complete their degree?
15 are still enrolled.
658 transferred to another institution.
Clemson lost contact with the remaining 148 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 1.8% |
| Transferred | 658 | 80.0% |
| Dropped Out | 148 | 18.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 71% |
| Asian | 91% |
| Black / African-American | 70% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 76% |
| International | 74% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 78% |
| Unknown | 88% |
| White | 87% |
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 Clemson 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 Clemson University represent 66% of the students in the class of 2015, and 67.92% of Clemson bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 59%, first-time students in the Clemson class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Clemson graduation rate was 82%, and by the eight year mark, 83% 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 | Clemson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 59% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 82% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 47.82% |
494 first-time / full-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
15 are still enrolled.
407 transferred to another institution.
Clemson lost contact with the remaining 78 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 15 | 3.04% |
| Transferred | 407 | 82.39% |
| Dropped Out | 78 | 15.79% |
First-time / part-time students at Clemson University represent 0.71% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 39%, first-time, part-time students in the Clemson class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 42%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Clemson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 39% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 23.72% |
18 first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
Clemson lost contact with the remaining 4 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 77.78% |
| Dropped Out | 4 | 22.22% |
1337 Clemson students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.48% 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 80%, 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 80%.
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 | Clemson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 80% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 80% | 55.07% |
264 non first-time / part-time students or 20% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
205 transferred to another institution.
Clemson lost contact with the remaining 53 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.27% |
| Transferred | 205 | 77.65% |
| Dropped Out | 53 | 20.08% |
104 Clemson students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.37% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 55%, 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 55%.
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 | Clemson | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 55% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 37.80% |
47 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
32 transferred to another institution.
Clemson lost contact with the remaining 13 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 4.26% |
| Transferred | 32 | 68.09% |
| Dropped Out | 13 | 27.66% |
