by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Coastal Carolina University first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at Coastal Carolina University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 77% students making it past their freshmen year, Coastal Carolina University 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 | |
|---|---|
| Coastal Carolina University | 77% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
How many of the estimated 1654 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 41% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 50% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 Coastal Carolina University graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1350 | 41% |
| Six Years | 1654 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 27 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1627 | 49% |
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 1627 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1627 students who did not complete their degree?
5 are still enrolled.
1111 transferred to another institution.
Coastal Carolina University lost contact with the remaining 503 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 1111 | 68.3% |
| Dropped Out | 503 | 30.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 40% |
| Asian | 45% |
| Black / African-American | 46% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 43% |
| Unknown | 44% |
| White | 53% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Coastal Carolina University 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 Coastal Carolina University represent 69.18% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Coastal Carolina University graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Coastal Carolina University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 36% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
1182 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
842 transferred to another institution.
Coastal Carolina University lost contact with the remaining 335 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.42% |
| Transferred | 842 | 71.24% |
| Dropped Out | 335 | 28.34% |
First-time / part-time students at Coastal Carolina University represent 0.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Coastal Carolina University graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | Coastal Carolina University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 23.72% |
6 first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
Coastal Carolina University lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 50.00% |
Returning / full-time students at Coastal Carolina University represent 27.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Coastal Carolina University graduation rate was 59%, and by the eight year mark, 59% 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 | Coastal Carolina University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 59% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 55.07% |
372 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
233 transferred to another institution.
Coastal Carolina University lost contact with the remaining 134 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.34% |
| Transferred | 233 | 62.63% |
| Dropped Out | 134 | 36.02% |
Returning / part-time students at Coastal Carolina University represent 2.90% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Coastal Carolina University 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.
| Completions | Coastal Carolina University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 30% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
67 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
33 transferred to another institution.
Coastal Carolina University lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.48% |
| Transferred | 33 | 49.25% |
| Dropped Out | 31 | 46.27% |
