by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to USC Upstate after their first year? Are USC Upstate 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, USC Upstate 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 South Carolina, the average is 65.91%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USC Upstate | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
Of the 1,124 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 24% of the cohort graduated. After six years 53% had completed their degree, and 55% 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 USC Upstate graduation rate 53%.
The average USC Upstate student takes 4.52 years to graduate with their bachelors.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 903 | 43% |
| Six Years | 1,124 | 53% |
| Eight Years | 35 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 950 | 45% |
Approximately 950 students or 45% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 950 students who did not complete their degree?
7 are still enrolled.
632 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 296 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 0.7% |
| Transferred | 632 | 66.5% |
| Dropped Out | 296 | 31.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 42% |
| Black / African-American | 47% |
| Hispanic | 45% |
| International | 53% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 44% |
| Unknown | 42% |
| White | 48% |
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 USC Upstate 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 - Upstate represent 36% of the students in the class of 2015, and 29.72% of USC Upstate bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 24%, first-time students in the USC Upstate class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the USC Upstate graduation rate was 44%, and by the eight year mark, 45% 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 Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 24% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 44% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 47.82% |
420 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
322 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 85 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.67% |
| Transferred | 322 | 76.67% |
| Dropped Out | 85 | 20.24% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Carolina - Upstate represent 3.70% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 15%, first-time, part-time students in the USC Upstate class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 18%.
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 Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 15% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 18% | 23.72% |
64 first-time / part-time students or 82% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.56% |
| Transferred | 36 | 56.25% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 42.19% |
881 USC Upstate students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 41.77% 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 70%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 72%.
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 Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 70% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 72% | 55.07% |
246 non first-time / part-time students or 28% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
143 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 99 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.63% |
| Transferred | 143 | 58.13% |
| Dropped Out | 99 | 40.24% |
384 USC Upstate students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 18.21% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 41%, 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 43%.
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 Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
220 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
131 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 85 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 1.82% |
| Transferred | 131 | 59.55% |
| Dropped Out | 85 | 38.64% |
