by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to South Plains College after their first year? Are South Plains College 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 40% students making it past their freshmen year, South Plains College 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 Texas, the average is 68.17%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| South Plains College | 40% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Texas | 68.17% |
Of the 708 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
20% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 19% in six years, and 20% in eight years.
The official graduation rate of South Plains College is 19%. 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 | 592 | 15% |
| Six Years | 708 | 19% |
| Eight Years | 44 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,068 | 80% |
Approximately 3068 students or 80% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3068 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1292 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 1712 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1292 | 42.1% |
| Dropped Out | 1,712 | 55.8% |
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 South Plains College 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 South Plains College represent 46% of the students in the class of 2015, and 58.19% of South Plains College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 20%, first-time students in the South Plains College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the South Plains College graduation rate was 24%, and by the eight year mark, 25% 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 | South Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 24% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 25% | 47.82% |
1308 first-time / full-time students or 75% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
424 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 851 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 424 | 32.42% |
| Dropped Out | 851 | 65.06% |
First-time / part-time students at South Plains College represent 14.87% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the South Plains College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 13%.
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 | South Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 13% | 23.72% |
496 first-time / part-time students or 87% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
22 are still enrolled.
88 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 386 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 22 | 4.44% |
| Transferred | 88 | 17.74% |
| Dropped Out | 386 | 77.82% |
908 South Plains College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 23.77% 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 20%, 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 21%.
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 | South Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 20% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 55.07% |
719 non first-time / part-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
399 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 314 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 0.83% |
| Transferred | 399 | 55.49% |
| Dropped Out | 314 | 43.67% |
600 South Plains College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.71% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 8%, 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 9%.
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 | South Plains College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 8% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 9% | 37.80% |
545 non first-time / part-time students or 91% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
381 transferred to another institution.
South Plains College lost contact with the remaining 161 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.55% |
| Transferred | 381 | 69.91% |
| Dropped Out | 161 | 29.54% |
