by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at South Carolina State University? 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 69% students making it past their freshmen year, South Carolina State University has freshmen retention rates similar to 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 | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina State University | 69% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 427 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
14% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 37% in six years, and 39% 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 South Carolina State University graduation rate 37%.
The average South Carolina State University student takes 4.79 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 222 | 19% |
| Six Years | 427 | 37% |
| Eight Years | 29 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 701 | 61% |
Approximately 701 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 701 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
511 transferred to another institution.
South Carolina State University lost contact with the remaining 183 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.4% |
| Transferred | 511 | 72.9% |
| Dropped Out | 183 | 26.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 60% |
| Black / African-American | 30% |
| Hispanic | 17% |
| International | 50% |
| White | 44% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 South Carolina State University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at South Carolina State University represent 74% of the students in the class of 2015, and 70.49% of South Carolina State University bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time students in the South Carolina State University class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the South Carolina State University graduation rate was 35%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | South Carolina State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 14% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 35% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
531 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
389 transferred to another institution.
South Carolina State University lost contact with the remaining 137 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.56% |
| Transferred | 389 | 73.26% |
| Dropped Out | 137 | 25.80% |
First-time / part-time students at South Carolina State University represent 0.78% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | South Carolina State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 23.72% |
9 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
South Carolina State University lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 33.33% |
259 South Carolina State University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.33% 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 44%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 45%.
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | South Carolina State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 44% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 55.07% |
142 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
South Carolina State University lost contact with the remaining 38 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.41% |
| Transferred | 102 | 71.83% |
| Dropped Out | 38 | 26.76% |
31 South Carolina State University students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 2.67% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, 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 39%.
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | South Carolina State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 39% | 37.80% |
19 non first-time / part-time students or 61% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
14 transferred to another institution.
South Carolina State University lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 14 | 73.68% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 26.32% |
