by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding South University’s online programs 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 freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 34% students making it past their freshmen year, South University’s online programs 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 Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South University’s online programs | 34% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
Of the 391 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 14% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 16% of the students had graduated and after eight years 16% 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’s online programs graduation rate 16%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 356 | 14% |
| Six Years | 391 | 16% |
| Eight Years | 17 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 2109 | 84% |
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 2109 students or 84% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2109 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
522 transferred to another institution.
South University’s online programs lost contact with the remaining 1561 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 522 | 24.8% |
| Dropped Out | 1561 | 74.0% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Black / African-American | 5% |
| White | 8% |
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’s online programs 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 University-Savannah Online represent 12.85% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South University’s online programs graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 5% 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 University’s online programs | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 5% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 47.82% |
305 first-time / full-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
73 transferred to another institution.
South University’s online programs lost contact with the remaining 232 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 73 | 23.93% |
| Dropped Out | 232 | 76.07% |
First-time / part-time students at South University-Savannah Online represent 31.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South University’s online programs graduation rate was 2%, 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.
| Completions | South University’s online programs | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 2% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 3% | 23.72% |
763 first-time / part-time students or 97% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
160 transferred to another institution.
South University’s online programs lost contact with the remaining 600 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.39% |
| Transferred | 160 | 20.97% |
| Dropped Out | 600 | 78.64% |
Returning / full-time students at South University-Savannah Online represent 20.32% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South University’s online programs graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 University’s online programs | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 25% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 55.07% |
376 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
102 transferred to another institution.
South University’s online programs lost contact with the remaining 265 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.39% |
| Transferred | 102 | 27.13% |
| Dropped Out | 265 | 70.48% |
Returning / part-time students at South University-Savannah Online represent 35.75% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the South University’s online programs graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 26% 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 University’s online programs | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 25% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 26% | 37.80% |
665 non first-time / part-time students or 74% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
187 transferred to another institution.
South University’s online programs lost contact with the remaining 464 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 2.11% |
| Transferred | 187 | 28.12% |
| Dropped Out | 464 | 69.77% |
