by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding South Texas 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 58% students making it past their freshmen year, South Texas 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 Texas College | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
Of the 2627 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 26% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 30% of the students had graduated and after eight years 32% 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 Texas College graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2262 | 26% |
| Six Years | 2627 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 159 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 5852 | 68% |
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 5852 students or 68% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 5852 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
1971 transferred to another institution.
South Texas College lost contact with the remaining 3705 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1971 | 33.7% |
| Dropped Out | 3705 | 63.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 7% |
| Hispanic | 27% |
| International | 100% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| Unknown | 43% |
| White | 32% |
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 Texas 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 Texas College represent 40.54% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Texas College graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 38% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 38% | 47.82% |
2179 first-time / full-time students or 62% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
71 are still enrolled.
409 transferred to another institution.
South Texas College lost contact with the remaining 1699 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 71 | 3.26% |
| Transferred | 409 | 18.77% |
| Dropped Out | 1699 | 77.97% |
First-time / part-time students at South Texas College represent 35.38% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Texas College graduation rate was 27%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 27% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 23.72% |
2158 first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
72 are still enrolled.
619 transferred to another institution.
South Texas College lost contact with the remaining 1467 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 72 | 3.34% |
| Transferred | 619 | 28.68% |
| Dropped Out | 1467 | 67.98% |
Returning / full-time students at South Texas College represent 6.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Texas College graduation rate was 39%, and by the eight year mark, 40% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 39% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 55.07% |
351 non first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
165 transferred to another institution.
South Texas College lost contact with the remaining 180 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.71% |
| Transferred | 165 | 47.01% |
| Dropped Out | 180 | 51.28% |
Returning / part-time students at South Texas College represent 17.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South Texas College graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 Texas College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
1164 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
27 are still enrolled.
778 transferred to another institution.
South Texas College lost contact with the remaining 359 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 27 | 2.32% |
| Transferred | 778 | 66.84% |
| Dropped Out | 359 | 30.84% |
