by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many USC Upstate first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at USC Upstate. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 70% students making it past their freshmen year, USC Upstate has freshmen retention rates near 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 | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 1132 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 48% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 56% of the students had graduated and after eight years 58% 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 USC Upstate graduation rate 56%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 970 | 48% |
| Six Years | 1132 | 56% |
| Eight Years | 26 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 846 | 42% |
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 846 students or 42% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 846 students who did not complete their degree?
9 are still enrolled.
556 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 272 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 556 | 65.7% |
| Dropped Out | 272 | 32.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 62% |
| Black / African-American | 40% |
| Hispanic | 47% |
| International | 67% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 32% |
| Unknown | 45% |
| White | 43% |
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 USC Upstate are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at University of South Carolina-Upstate represent 39.24% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USC Upstate graduation rate was 42%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | USC Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 42% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 47.82% |
440 first-time / full-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
9 are still enrolled.
322 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 109 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 9 | 2.05% |
| Transferred | 322 | 73.18% |
| Dropped Out | 109 | 24.77% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Carolina-Upstate represent 0.15% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USC Upstate graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% 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 | USC Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 0% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 0% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 66.67% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 33.33% |
Returning / full-time students at University of South Carolina-Upstate represent 50.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USC Upstate graduation rate was 69%, and by the eight year mark, 70% 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 | USC Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 69% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 70% | 55.07% |
299 non first-time / part-time students or 30% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
174 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 119 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 2.01% |
| Transferred | 174 | 58.19% |
| Dropped Out | 119 | 39.80% |
Returning / part-time students at University of South Carolina-Upstate represent 10.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the USC Upstate graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 51% 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 | USC Upstate | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 42% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 37.80% |
104 non first-time / part-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
58 transferred to another institution.
USC Upstate lost contact with the remaining 43 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.88% |
| Transferred | 58 | 55.77% |
| Dropped Out | 43 | 41.35% |
