by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to USD after their first year? Are USD students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, USD 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 Dakota, the average is 75.05%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USD | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Dakota | 75.05% |
There were approximately 1,236 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 38% of the cohort graduated. After six years 49% had completed their degree, and 50% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of USD is 49%. 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 typical USD student takes 4.33 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 939 | 37% |
| Six Years | 1,236 | 49% |
| Eight Years | 31 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,281 | 50% |
Approximately 1281 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1281 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
791 transferred to another institution.
USD lost contact with the remaining 477 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 791 | 61.7% |
| Dropped Out | 477 | 37.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 31% |
| Asian | 71% |
| Black / African-American | 38% |
| Hispanic | 44% |
| International | 45% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 75% |
| White | 62% |
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 USD 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 Dakota represent 46% of the students in the class of 2015, and 51.46% of USD bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 38%, first-time students in the USD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the USD graduation rate was 54%, and by the eight year mark, 55% 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 | USD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 38% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 54% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 55% | 47.82% |
527 first-time / full-time students or 45% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
359 transferred to another institution.
USD lost contact with the remaining 162 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.90% |
| Transferred | 359 | 68.12% |
| Dropped Out | 162 | 30.74% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Dakota represent 8.15% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the USD class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 28%.
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 | USD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 8% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 28% | 23.72% |
149 first-time / part-time students or 72% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
80 transferred to another institution.
USD lost contact with the remaining 66 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.01% |
| Transferred | 80 | 53.69% |
| Dropped Out | 66 | 44.30% |
505 USD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.78% 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 55%, 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 56%.
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 | USD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 55% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
220 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
128 transferred to another institution.
USD lost contact with the remaining 91 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.45% |
| Transferred | 128 | 58.18% |
| Dropped Out | 91 | 41.36% |
662 USD students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 25.93% 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 42%.
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 | USD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
385 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
224 transferred to another institution.
USD lost contact with the remaining 158 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.78% |
| Transferred | 224 | 58.18% |
| Dropped Out | 158 | 41.04% |
