South University, Columbia Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

South University, Columbia 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding South University, Columbia 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.

• 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 86% students making it past their freshmen year, South University, Columbia has freshmen retention rates above 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

There were approximately 212 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?

10% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 28% in six years, and 29% in eight years.

The official graduation rate of South University, Columbia is 28%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.

The average South University, Columbia student takes 4.25 years to graduate with their bachelors.

South University, Columbia Graduation Rates vs. National Average

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South University, Columbia Drop Out Rate

Approximately 546 students or 71% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 546 students who did not complete their degree?

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 237 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 309 who we assumed dropped out.

South University, Columbia Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

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.

The majority of students at South University, Columbia are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

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 South University, Columbia Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at South University, Columbia represent 14% of the students in the class of 2015, and 8.96% of South University, Columbia bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 10%, first-time students in the South University, Columbia class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the South University, Columbia graduation rate was 17%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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.

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

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

90 first-time / full-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 41 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at South University, Columbia represent 5.34% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 2%, first-time, part-time students in the South University, Columbia class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 2%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 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

40 first-time / part-time students or 98% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 11 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

424 South University, Columbia students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 55.21% 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 35%, 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 35%.

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.

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

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

273 non first-time / part-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 126 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 147 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

192 South University, Columbia students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.00% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 24%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 25%.

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.

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

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

143 non first-time / part-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 59 transferred to another institution.

• South University, Columbia lost contact with the remaining 84 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