South University, Columbia Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

South University-Columbia 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

How many South University, Columbia 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 University, Columbia. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.

• South University, Columbia Retention Rate
• South University, Columbia Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• South University, Columbia Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

South University, Columbia Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 57% students making it past their freshmen year, South University, Columbia 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%.

South University, Columbia Graduation Rates

How many of the estimated 131 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 22% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 25% 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 University, Columbia graduation rate 25%.

South University, Columbia Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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.

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South University, Columbia Drop Out Rate

Approximately 392 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 392 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 128 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 258 who we assumed dropped out.

South University, Columbia Graduation Rates by Race/EthnicityWe don’t have graduation rate by race/ethnicity data for South University-Columbia.

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

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 University, Columbia 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 South University, Columbia Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at South University-Columbia represent 10.53% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the South University, Columbia graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 11% 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.

South University, Columbia First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time South University, Columbia Drop Out Rates

50 first-time / full-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 13 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 37 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at South University-Columbia represent 7.52% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the South University, Columbia graduation rate was 3%, and by the eight year mark, 3% 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.

First-Time / Part-Time South University, Columbia Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time South University, Columbia Drop Out Rates

39 first-time / part-time students or 97% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 8 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 31 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at South University-Columbia represent 50.75% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the South University, Columbia graduation rate was 30%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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.

South University, Columbia Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time South University, Columbia Drop Out Rates

185 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 3 are still enrolled.

• 73 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 109 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at South University-Columbia represent 31.20% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the South University, Columbia graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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.

South University, Columbia Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time South University, Columbia Drop Out Rates

118 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 3 are still enrolled.

• 34 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 81 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics