by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to USCB after their first year? Are USCB students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 63% students making it past their freshmen year, USCB 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 | |
|---|---|
| USCB | 63% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 281 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
12% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 33% in six years, and 34% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of USCB is 33%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average USCB student takes 4.41 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 196 | 23% |
| Six Years | 281 | 33% |
| Eight Years | 10 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 555 | 66% |
Approximately 555 students or 66% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 555 students who did not complete their degree?
4 are still enrolled.
396 transferred to another institution.
USCB lost contact with the remaining 154 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 396 | 71.4% |
| Dropped Out | 154 | 27.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hispanic | 36% |
| International | 45% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 40% |
| White | 31% |
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 USCB are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at University of South Carolina - Beaufort represent 50% of the students in the class of 2015, and 40.57% of USCB bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 12%, first-time students in the USCB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the USCB graduation rate was 27%, 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 | USCB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 12% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 27% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 47.82% |
306 first-time / full-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
240 transferred to another institution.
USCB lost contact with the remaining 63 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.31% |
| Transferred | 240 | 78.43% |
| Dropped Out | 63 | 20.59% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Carolina - Beaufort represent 4.73% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time, part-time students in the USCB class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 5%.
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 | USCB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 3% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
38 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
22 transferred to another institution.
USCB lost contact with the remaining 16 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 22 | 57.89% |
| Dropped Out | 16 | 42.11% |
224 USCB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 26.48% 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 49%, 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 50%.
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 | USCB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 49% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
112 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
70 transferred to another institution.
USCB lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.79% |
| Transferred | 70 | 62.50% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 35.71% |
157 USCB students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.56% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 36%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 37%.
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 | USCB | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 36% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
99 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
64 transferred to another institution.
USCB lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 64 | 64.65% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 35.35% |
