Furman Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Furman University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How long does it take to earn a degree at Furman? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.

• Furman Retention Rate
• Furman 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
• Furman Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Furman Retention Rate

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

With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Furman 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%.

Furman Graduation Rates

There were approximately 678 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

75% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 80% in six years, and 80% 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 Furman graduation rate 80%.

How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at Furman? The standard length of time for most students is 4.07 years.

Furman Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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Furman Drop Out Rate

Approximately 167 students or 20% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 167 students who did not complete their degree?

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 141 transferred to another institution.

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

Furman Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 Furman 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 Furman Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Furman University represent 93% of the students in the class of 2015, and 93.66% of Furman bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 75%, first-time students in the Furman class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the Furman graduation rate was 81%, and by the eight year mark, 81% 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.

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

First-Time / Full-Time Furman Drop Out Rates

153 first-time / full-time students or 19% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 132 transferred to another institution.

• Furman lost contact with the remaining 21 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Furman first-time, part-time students.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

31 Furman students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.67% 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 87%, 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 87%.

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.

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

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

4 non first-time / part-time students or 13% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 4 transferred to another institution.

• Furman lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

26 Furman students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.08% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 62%, 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 62%.

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.

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

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

10 non first-time / part-time students or 38% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 5 transferred to another institution.

• Furman lost contact with the remaining 5 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 Greengrass090 under License