by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Trident Technical College 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 percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 59% students making it past their freshmen year, Trident Technical 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 South Carolina, the average is 65.91%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Trident Technical College | 59% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
Of the 967 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 18% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 22% of the students had graduated and after eight years 23% 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 Trident Technical College graduation rate 22%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 819 | 18% |
| Six Years | 967 | 22% |
| Eight Years | 72 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3437 | 77% |
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 3437 students or 77% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3437 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
396 transferred to another institution.
Trident Technical College lost contact with the remaining 2944 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 396 | 11.5% |
| Dropped Out | 2944 | 85.7% |
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 Trident Technical 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 Trident Technical College represent 30.55% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Trident Technical College graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Trident Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 29% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
954 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
34 are still enrolled.
225 transferred to another institution.
Trident Technical College lost contact with the remaining 695 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 34 | 3.56% |
| Transferred | 225 | 23.58% |
| Dropped Out | 695 | 72.85% |
First-time / part-time students at Trident Technical College represent 25.57% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Trident Technical College graduation rate was 8%, and by the eight year mark, 10% 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 | Trident Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 8% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 10% | 23.72% |
1030 first-time / part-time students or 90% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
36 are still enrolled.
59 transferred to another institution.
Trident Technical College lost contact with the remaining 935 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 36 | 3.50% |
| Transferred | 59 | 5.73% |
| Dropped Out | 935 | 90.78% |
Returning / full-time students at Trident Technical College represent 15.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Trident Technical College graduation rate was 33%, and by the eight year mark, 34% 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 | Trident Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 33% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 34% | 55.07% |
466 non first-time / part-time students or 66% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
32 transferred to another institution.
Trident Technical College lost contact with the remaining 429 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.07% |
| Transferred | 32 | 6.87% |
| Dropped Out | 429 | 92.06% |
Returning / part-time students at Trident Technical College represent 28.20% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Trident Technical College graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 22% 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 | Trident Technical College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 20% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 37.80% |
987 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
Trident Technical College lost contact with the remaining 885 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 2.23% |
| Transferred | 80 | 8.11% |
| Dropped Out | 885 | 89.67% |
