by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many South Plains 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 Plains College. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 53% students making it past their freshmen year, South Plains 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Plains College | 53% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
There were approximately 898 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 21% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 24% of the students had graduated and after eight years 26% 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 Plains College graduation rate 24%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 782 | 21% |
| Six Years | 898 | 24% |
| Eight Years | 52 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2735 | 74% |
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 2735 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2735 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1142 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 1557 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1142 | 41.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1557 | 56.9% |
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.
A meaningful share of students at South Plains College are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at South Plains College represent 46.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Plains College graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 32% 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 Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 27% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 30% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
1164 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
335 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 811 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.55% |
| Transferred | 335 | 28.78% |
| Dropped Out | 811 | 69.67% |
First-time / part-time students at South Plains College represent 13.46% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Plains College graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 18% 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 | South Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
405 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 326 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 2.47% |
| Transferred | 69 | 17.04% |
| Dropped Out | 326 | 80.49% |
Returning / full-time students at South Plains College represent 19.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Plains College graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 28% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 55.07% |
506 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
282 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 218 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.19% |
| Transferred | 282 | 55.73% |
| Dropped Out | 218 | 43.08% |
Returning / part-time students at South Plains College represent 20.73% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Plains College graduation rate was 13%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | South Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 13% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 37.80% |
660 non first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
456 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 202 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.30% |
| Transferred | 456 | 69.09% |
| Dropped Out | 202 | 30.61% |
