by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Lander 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 Lander 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 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Lander 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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Lander University | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 430 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 38% 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 Lander University graduation rate 50%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 325 | 38% |
| Six Years | 430 | 50% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 424 | 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 424 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 424 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
309 transferred to another institution.
Lander University lost contact with the remaining 106 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 309 | 72.9% |
| Dropped Out | 106 | 25.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 38% |
| Black / African-American | 41% |
| Hispanic | 28% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 37% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 54% |
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 Lander University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Lander University represent 72.02% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lander University graduation rate was 45%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Lander University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 45% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 47.82% |
334 first-time / full-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
252 transferred to another institution.
Lander University lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 2.10% |
| Transferred | 252 | 75.45% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 22.46% |
First-time / part-time students at Lander University represent 0.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lander University graduation rate was 100%, and by the eight year mark, 100% 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 | Lander University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 100% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 100% | 23.72% |
Returning / full-time students at Lander University represent 25.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lander University graduation rate was 62%, and by the eight year mark, 63% 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 | Lander University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 62% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 63% | 55.07% |
81 non first-time / part-time students or 37% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
Lander University lost contact with the remaining 28 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.47% |
| Transferred | 51 | 62.96% |
| Dropped Out | 28 | 34.57% |
Returning / part-time students at Lander University represent 2.66% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Lander University graduation rate was 61%, and by the eight year mark, 61% 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 | Lander University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 61% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 37.80% |
9 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
Lander University lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 33.33% |
