by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Southern Union State Community 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 Southern Union State Community 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 67% students making it past their freshmen year, Southern Union State Community 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 Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southern Union State Community College | 67% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
There were approximately 620 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 28% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 30% of the students had graduated and after eight years 30% 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 Southern Union State Community College graduation rate 30%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 585 | 28% |
| Six Years | 620 | 30% |
| Eight Years | 7 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 1439 | 70% |
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 1439 students or 70% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1439 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
675 transferred to another institution.
Southern Union State Community College lost contact with the remaining 740 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 675 | 46.9% |
| Dropped Out | 740 | 51.4% |
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 Southern Union State Community 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 Southern Union State Community College represent 47.00% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Union State Community College graduation rate was 32%, 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 | Southern Union State Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 31% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 32% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 47.82% |
658 first-time / full-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
415 transferred to another institution.
Southern Union State Community College lost contact with the remaining 231 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 415 | 63.07% |
| Dropped Out | 231 | 35.11% |
First-time / part-time students at Southern Union State Community College represent 15.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Union State Community College graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Southern Union State Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
244 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
52 transferred to another institution.
Southern Union State Community College lost contact with the remaining 187 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.05% |
| Transferred | 52 | 21.31% |
| Dropped Out | 187 | 76.64% |
Returning / full-time students at Southern Union State Community College represent 20.04% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Union State Community College graduation rate was 31%, 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.
| Completions | Southern Union State Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 31% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
285 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
96 transferred to another institution.
Southern Union State Community College lost contact with the remaining 187 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.70% |
| Transferred | 96 | 33.68% |
| Dropped Out | 187 | 65.61% |
Returning / part-time students at Southern Union State Community College represent 17.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Southern Union State Community College graduation rate was 31%, and by the eight year mark, 31% 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 | Southern Union State Community College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 37.80% |
252 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
112 transferred to another institution.
Southern Union State Community College lost contact with the remaining 135 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.98% |
| Transferred | 112 | 44.44% |
| Dropped Out | 135 | 53.57% |
