by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to SouthArk after their first year? Are SouthArk students graduating in a timely manner? What happens to the students who don't graduate? Get all your questions answered here.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 53% students making it past their freshmen year, SouthArk 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 Arkansas, the average is 66.23%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SouthArk | 53% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Arkansas | 66.23% |
How many of the estimated 210 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?
30% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 35% in six years, and 36% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of SouthArk is 35%. 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.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 190 | 32% |
| Six Years | 210 | 35% |
| Eight Years | 8 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 385 | 64% |
Approximately 385 students or 64% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 385 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
36 transferred to another institution.
SouthArk lost contact with the remaining 344 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 36 | 9.4% |
| Dropped Out | 344 | 89.4% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 SouthArk are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at South Arkansas Community College represent 40% of the students in the class of 2015, and 39.52% of SouthArk bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 30%, first-time students in the SouthArk class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SouthArk graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 35% 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 | SouthArk | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 34% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 35% | 47.82% |
159 first-time / full-time students or 65% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
16 transferred to another institution.
SouthArk lost contact with the remaining 140 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 16 | 10.06% |
| Dropped Out | 140 | 88.05% |
First-time / part-time students at South Arkansas Community College represent 18.08% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time, part-time students in the SouthArk class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 27%.
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 | SouthArk | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 25% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 23.72% |
80 first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
2 transferred to another institution.
SouthArk lost contact with the remaining 77 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.25% |
| Transferred | 2 | 2.50% |
| Dropped Out | 77 | 96.25% |
115 SouthArk students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 19.07% 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 50%, 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 53%.
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 | SouthArk | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 50% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 53% | 55.07% |
54 non first-time / part-time students or 47% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
6 transferred to another institution.
SouthArk lost contact with the remaining 48 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 6 | 11.11% |
| Dropped Out | 48 | 88.89% |
136 SouthArk students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 22.55% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 31%, 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 32%.
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 | SouthArk | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 32% | 37.80% |
92 non first-time / part-time students or 68% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
12 transferred to another institution.
SouthArk lost contact with the remaining 79 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.09% |
| Transferred | 12 | 13.04% |
| Dropped Out | 79 | 85.87% |
