by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many South College 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 South College. 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 52% students making it past their freshmen year, South 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 Tennessee, the average is 71.48%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South College | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Tennessee | 71.48% |
How many of the estimated 478 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 45% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 45% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 South College graduation rate 45%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 478 | 45% |
| Six Years | 478 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 11 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 562 | 53% |
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 562 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 562 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
221 transferred to another institution.
South College lost contact with the remaining 335 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 221 | 39.3% |
| Dropped Out | 335 | 59.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 44% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 33% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 67% |
| White | 34% |
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 South College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
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 South College represent 38.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South College graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | South College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 41% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
233 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
64 transferred to another institution.
South College lost contact with the remaining 168 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.43% |
| Transferred | 64 | 27.47% |
| Dropped Out | 168 | 72.10% |
We don’t have data for this cohort at South College.
Returning / full-time students at South College represent 61.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South College graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 49% 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 | South College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 49% | 55.07% |
329 non first-time / part-time students or 51% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
157 transferred to another institution.
South College lost contact with the remaining 167 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.52% |
| Transferred | 157 | 47.72% |
| Dropped Out | 167 | 50.76% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data for this cohort at South College.
