by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Piedmont Technical College 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 61% students making it past their freshmen year, Piedmont Technical College has freshmen retention rates below 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 | |
|---|---|
| Piedmont Technical College | 61% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
How many of the estimated 484 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 25% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 30% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 Piedmont Technical College graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 410 | 25% |
| Six Years | 484 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 24 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1119 | 69% |
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 1119 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1119 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
358 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Technical College lost contact with the remaining 724 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 358 | 32.0% |
| Dropped Out | 724 | 64.7% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
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.
A meaningful share of students at Piedmont Technical College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Piedmont Technical College represent 36.14% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Piedmont Technical College graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Piedmont Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 28% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 47.82% |
381 first-time / full-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Technical College lost contact with the remaining 255 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 3.41% |
| Transferred | 113 | 29.66% |
| Dropped Out | 255 | 66.93% |
First-time / part-time students at Piedmont Technical College represent 36.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Piedmont Technical College graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Piedmont Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 15% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 20% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 23.72% |
465 first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
17 are still enrolled.
117 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Technical College lost contact with the remaining 331 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 3.66% |
| Transferred | 117 | 25.16% |
| Dropped Out | 331 | 71.18% |
Returning / full-time students at Piedmont Technical College represent 10.74% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Piedmont Technical College graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 46% 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 | Piedmont Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 46% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 46% | 55.07% |
94 non first-time / part-time students or 54% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
46 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Technical College lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.13% |
| Transferred | 46 | 48.94% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 48.94% |
Returning / part-time students at Piedmont Technical College represent 16.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Piedmont Technical College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | Piedmont Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 33% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 37.80% |
179 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
82 transferred to another institution.
Piedmont Technical College lost contact with the remaining 92 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.79% |
| Transferred | 82 | 45.81% |
| Dropped Out | 92 | 51.40% |
