by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding USC Lancaster 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 46% students making it past their freshmen year, USC Lancaster 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 | |
|---|---|
| USC Lancaster | 46% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
Of the 121 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 19% of the cohort graduated. After six years 18% had completed their degree, and 20% after eight years.
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 USC Lancaster graduation rate 18%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 118 | 18% |
| Six Years | 121 | 18% |
| Eight Years | 10 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 532 | 80% |
Approximately 532 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 532 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
340 transferred to another institution.
USC Lancaster lost contact with the remaining 190 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 340 | 63.9% |
| Dropped Out | 190 | 35.7% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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 USC Lancaster are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at University of South Carolina - Lancaster represent 64% of the students in the class of 2015, and 66.12% of USC Lancaster bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 19%, first-time students in the USC Lancaster class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the USC Lancaster graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | USC Lancaster | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 19% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 47.82% |
337 first-time / full-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
230 transferred to another institution.
USC Lancaster lost contact with the remaining 107 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 230 | 68.25% |
| Dropped Out | 107 | 31.75% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Carolina - Lancaster represent 8.75% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 5%, first-time, part-time students in the USC Lancaster class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 7%.
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 | USC Lancaster | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 7% | 23.72% |
54 first-time / part-time students or 93% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
19 transferred to another institution.
USC Lancaster lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 19 | 35.19% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 64.81% |
107 USC Lancaster students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 16.14% 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 22%, 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 22%.
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 | USC Lancaster | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 22% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 55.07% |
83 non first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
60 transferred to another institution.
USC Lancaster lost contact with the remaining 22 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.20% |
| Transferred | 60 | 72.29% |
| Dropped Out | 22 | 26.51% |
73 USC Lancaster students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 11.01% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 19%, 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 21%.
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 | USC Lancaster | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 37.80% |
58 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
31 transferred to another institution.
USC Lancaster lost contact with the remaining 26 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.72% |
| Transferred | 31 | 53.45% |
| Dropped Out | 26 | 44.83% |
