by our College Data Analytics TeamAre students coming back to USA after their first year? Are USA 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 76% students making it past their freshmen year, USA 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 Alabama, the average is 66.79%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| USA | 76% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Alabama | 66.79% |
Of the 1,615 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
18% of the cohort completed their degree in four years, 41% in six years, and 43% in eight years.
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 USA graduation rate 41%.
How long does it take to get a bachelor's degree at USA? The standard length of time for most students is 4.56 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,035 | 26% |
| Six Years | 1,615 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 110 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,246 | 57% |
Approximately 2246 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2246 students who did not complete their degree?
30 are still enrolled.
1385 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 824 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 1.3% |
| Transferred | 1385 | 61.7% |
| Dropped Out | 824 | 36.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 64% |
| Asian | 68% |
| Black / African-American | 37% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| International | 31% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 51% |
| Unknown | 30% |
| White | 48% |
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 USA 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 University of South Alabama represent 51% of the students in the class of 2015, and 48.24% of USA bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 18%, first-time students in the USA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the USA graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 18% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 38% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
1172 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
30 are still enrolled.
696 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 450 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 30 | 2.56% |
| Transferred | 696 | 59.39% |
| Dropped Out | 450 | 38.40% |
First-time / part-time students at University of South Alabama represent 2.37% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time, part-time students in the USA class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 19%.
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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
76 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 49 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 2.63% |
| Transferred | 25 | 32.89% |
| Dropped Out | 49 | 64.47% |
1437 USA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.19% 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 48%, 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 50%.
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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 48% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 55.07% |
719 non first-time / part-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
495 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 216 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 1.11% |
| Transferred | 495 | 68.85% |
| Dropped Out | 216 | 30.04% |
415 USA students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 10.45% 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 33%.
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 | USA | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 31% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 33% | 37.80% |
279 non first-time / part-time students or 67% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
169 transferred to another institution.
USA lost contact with the remaining 109 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.36% |
| Transferred | 169 | 60.57% |
| Dropped Out | 109 | 39.07% |
