by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding USA 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, USA 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 Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USA | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
Of the 1647 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 37% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 48% of the students had graduated and after eight years 51% 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 USA graduation rate 48%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1264 | 37% |
| Six Years | 1647 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 73 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1682 | 49% |
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 1682 students or 49% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1682 students who did not complete their degree?
17 are still enrolled.
1019 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 637 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 17 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 1019 | 60.6% |
| Dropped Out | 637 | 37.9% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 56% |
| Asian | 68% |
| Black / African-American | 45% |
| Hawaiian | 75% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 55% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 51% |
| Unknown | 64% |
| White | 55% |
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 USA are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of South Alabama represent 59.44% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USA graduation rate was 47%, and by the eight year mark, 50% 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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 32% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 47% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
1020 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
18 are still enrolled.
631 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 371 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 18 | 1.76% |
| Transferred | 631 | 61.86% |
| Dropped Out | 371 | 36.37% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Alabama represent 1.26% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USA graduation rate was 7%, and by the eight year mark, 14% 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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 7% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
37 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 20 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 45.95% |
| Dropped Out | 20 | 54.05% |
Returning / full-time students at University of South Alabama represent 32.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USA graduation rate was 55%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
470 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
287 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 178 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.06% |
| Transferred | 287 | 61.06% |
| Dropped Out | 178 | 37.87% |
Returning / part-time students at University of South Alabama represent 7.23% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USA graduation rate was 37%, and by the eight year mark, 37% 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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 37% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
155 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
84 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 68 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 1.94% |
| Transferred | 84 | 54.19% |
| Dropped Out | 68 | 43.87% |
