by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to PC after their first year? Are PC 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, PC 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 | |
|---|---|
| PC | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| South Carolina | 65.91% |
There were approximately 261 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 61% of those students had graduated. By 2017, six years after starting their degree, 68% of the students had graduated and after eight years 68% of this class completed their degree.
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 PC graduation rate 68%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at PC? The standard length of time for most students is 4.11 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 238 | 62% |
| Six Years | 261 | 68% |
| Eight Years | 2 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 123 | 32% |
Approximately 123 students or 32% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 123 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
106 transferred to another institution.
PC lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 106 | 86.2% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 13.8% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 75% |
| Black / African-American | 49% |
| Hispanic | 60% |
| International | 80% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| White | 67% |
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 PC 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 Presbyterian College represent 94% of the students in the class of 2015, and 94.25% of PC bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 61%, first-time students in the PC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the PC graduation rate was 68%, and by the eight year mark, 68% 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 | PC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 61% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 68% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 68% | 47.82% |
115 first-time / full-time students or 32% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
98 transferred to another institution.
PC lost contact with the remaining 17 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 98 | 85.22% |
| Dropped Out | 17 | 14.78% |
First-time / part-time students at Presbyterian College represent 0.78% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 33%, first-time, part-time students in the PC class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 33%.
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 | PC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 33% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 33% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 23.72% |
2 first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
PC lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 2 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
19 PC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 4.91% 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 74%, 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 74%.
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 | PC | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 74% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 55.07% |
5 non first-time / part-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
5 transferred to another institution.
PC lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 5 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
1 PC students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 0.26% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 0%, 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 0%.
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.
1 non 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.
1 transferred to another institution.
PC lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 1 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
