Francis Marion University Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Francis Marion University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many Francis Marion 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 Francis Marion University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• Francis Marion University Retention Rate
• Francis Marion University 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
• Francis Marion University Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Francis Marion University Retention Rate

Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.

With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Francis Marion University has freshmen retention rates near 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%.

Francis Marion University Graduation Rates

Of the 463 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?

Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 43% 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 Francis Marion University graduation rate 43%.

Francis Marion University 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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Francis Marion University Drop Out Rate

Approximately 595 students or 55% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 595 students who did not complete their degree?

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 420 transferred to another institution.

• Francis Marion University lost contact with the remaining 167 who we assumed dropped out.

Francis Marion University Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Francis Marion 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 Francis Marion University Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Francis Marion University represent 69.17% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Francis Marion University graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 41% 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.

Francis Marion University First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Francis Marion University Drop Out Rates

440 first-time / full-time students or 59% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 7 are still enrolled.

• 316 transferred to another institution.

• Francis Marion University lost contact with the remaining 117 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Francis Marion University represent 0.28% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Francis Marion University graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 67% 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 Francis Marion University Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time Francis Marion University Drop Out Rates

1 first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 1 transferred to another institution.

• Francis Marion University lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Francis Marion University represent 27.31% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Francis Marion University graduation rate was 53%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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.

Francis Marion University Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time Francis Marion University Drop Out Rates

134 non first-time / part-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 92 transferred to another institution.

• Francis Marion University lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at Francis Marion University represent 3.24% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Francis Marion University graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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.

Francis Marion University Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time Francis Marion University Drop Out Rates

20 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 11 transferred to another institution.

• Francis Marion University lost contact with the remaining 8 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 Lfalck under License