by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding TCTC 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.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 30% students making it past their freshmen year, TCTC has freshmen retention rates similar to 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%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| TCTC | 30% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
How many of the estimated 791 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
After four years 23% of the cohort graduated. After six years 25% had completed their degree, and 26% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official TCTC graduation rate 25%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 697 | 22% |
| Six Years | 791 | 25% |
| Eight Years | 62 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,369 | 74% |
Approximately 2369 students or 74% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2369 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1213 transferred to another institution.
TCTC lost contact with the remaining 1131 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1213 | 51.2% |
| Dropped Out | 1,131 | 47.7% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 TCTC are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Tri-County Technical College represent 60% of the students in the class of 2015, and 63.84% of TCTC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time students in the TCTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the TCTC graduation rate was 26%, and by the eight year mark, 28% 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.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | TCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 26% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 47.82% |
1386 first-time / full-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
762 transferred to another institution.
TCTC lost contact with the remaining 608 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 762 | 54.98% |
| Dropped Out | 608 | 43.87% |
First-time / part-time students at Tri-County Technical College represent 14.62% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 13%, first-time, part-time students in the TCTC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 15%.
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 Completions | TCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 9% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 13% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 15% | 23.72% |
398 first-time / part-time students or 85% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
99 transferred to another institution.
TCTC lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.26% |
| Transferred | 99 | 24.87% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 73.87% |
456 TCTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 14.15% 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 27%, 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 28%.
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.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | TCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 27% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 55.07% |
330 non first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
211 transferred to another institution.
TCTC lost contact with the remaining 119 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 211 | 63.94% |
| Dropped Out | 119 | 36.06% |
361 TCTC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.20% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 29%, 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 29%.
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.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | TCTC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 29% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 37.80% |
255 non first-time / part-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
141 transferred to another institution.
TCTC lost contact with the remaining 110 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.57% |
| Transferred | 141 | 55.29% |
| Dropped Out | 110 | 43.14% |
