by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Southern Miss retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Southern Miss 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 Mississippi, the average is 70.78%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Southern Miss | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Mississippi | 70.78% |
There were approximately 2,019 students in the class of 2015. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
After four years 25% of the cohort graduated. After six years 48% had completed their degree, and 50% after 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 Southern Miss graduation rate 48%.
The typical Southern Miss student takes 4.50 years to complete their bachelor's degree.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1,492 | 36% |
| Six Years | 2,019 | 48% |
| Eight Years | 73 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 2,097 | 50% |
Approximately 2097 students or 50% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 2097 students who did not complete their degree?
20 are still enrolled.
1316 transferred to another institution.
Southern Miss lost contact with the remaining 746 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 1.0% |
| Transferred | 1316 | 62.8% |
| Dropped Out | 746 | 35.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 67% |
| Black / African-American | 38% |
| Hispanic | 50% |
| International | 69% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 31% |
| Unknown | 75% |
| White | 57% |
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 Southern Miss 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 University of Southern Mississippi represent 42% of the students in the class of 2015, and 39.92% of Southern Miss bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 25%, first-time students in the Southern Miss class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Southern Miss graduation rate was 46%, and by the eight year mark, 48% 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 | Southern Miss | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 25% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 46% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 48% | 47.82% |
911 first-time / full-time students or 52% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
20 are still enrolled.
605 transferred to another institution.
Southern Miss lost contact with the remaining 289 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 20 | 2.20% |
| Transferred | 605 | 66.41% |
| Dropped Out | 289 | 31.72% |
First-time / part-time students at University of Southern Mississippi represent 0.64% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time, part-time students in the Southern Miss class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 11%.
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 | Southern Miss | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
Southern Miss lost contact with the remaining 7 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 70.83% |
| Dropped Out | 7 | 29.17% |
2029 Southern Miss students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 48.42% 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 54%, 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 | Southern Miss | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 54% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
897 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
517 transferred to another institution.
Southern Miss lost contact with the remaining 367 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.45% |
| Transferred | 517 | 57.64% |
| Dropped Out | 367 | 40.91% |
377 Southern Miss students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 9.00% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 28%, 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 30%.
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 | Southern Miss | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 28% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 37.80% |
265 non first-time / part-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
177 transferred to another institution.
Southern Miss lost contact with the remaining 83 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 1.89% |
| Transferred | 177 | 66.79% |
| Dropped Out | 83 | 31.32% |
