What is the Average Retention Rate in South Carolina?
The retention rate is the percentage of first-time students who attend and continue their study in next year at colleges. The low retention rate means that more students transfer out to or stop/pause the program at a school. In general, high ranked colleges or special purpose colleges' retention rate is higher than others.
The average retention rate of South Carolina colleges is 72.16% for full-time students and 51.75% for part-time students. 30,804 out of 40,982 full-time first-year students continued their study in next year at South Carolina colleges. In public South Carolina colleges, the retention rate is 64% and private schools' rate is 67% By school levels, the retention rate at four-years colleges is 71% and community colleges' rate is 63% in South Carolina.
The next schools are the top 4 South Carolina colleges that have the highest retention rate. Clemson University has the highest retention rate of 93% among South Carolina colleges. University of South Carolina-Columbia and College of Charleston also have higher rate of 92% and 82% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude community colleges and four-colleges with less than 1,000 first-time students.
- Clemson University Retention Rate: 93% (full-time), 80% (part-time)
- University of South Carolina-Columbia Retention Rate: 92% (full-time), 38% (part-time)
- College of Charleston Retention Rate: 82% (full-time), 40% (part-time)
- Coastal Carolina University Retention Rate: 77% (full-time), 17% (part-time)
The following table summarizes the average retention rate in South Carolina by school type and level.
| Total | Public | Private (not-for-profit) | Private (for-profit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 72.10% | 64.06% | 66.87% | 85.57% |
| 4 Years Colleges | 70.64% | 74.83% | 67.64% | 78.50% |
| Community Colleges | 62.80% | 57.89% | - | 78.33% |
| Trade Schools | 85.05% | 52.00% | 50.00% | 88.45% |
The following table summarizes the retention rate and number of students by attending status for South Carolina collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of students in the corresponding category.
| Retention Rate | First-time Students | Enrolled in Next Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 72.16% | 40,982 | 30,804 |
| Part-time | 51.75% | 5,740 | 2,107 |
The following table shows the South Carolina Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
| School Name | Location | Tuition & Fees | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Graniteville, SC | $7,924 ($6,172) | 2,307 | - | 34% |
| Allen University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $14,304 | 610 | 72.54% | 13% |
| Anderson University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Anderson, SC | $34,970 | 4,710 | 54.71% | 66% |
| Charleston Southern University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Charleston, SC | $32,520 | 3,832 | 96.46% | 47% |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry Public, 2-4 years | Beaufort, SC | $11,916 ($6,756) | 2,461 | - | 18% |
| Benedict College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $17,748 | 1,691 | 95.70% | 24% |
| Bob Jones University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Greenville, SC | $22,892 | 2,734 | - | 65% |
| Southern Wesleyan University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Central, SC | $29,800 | 980 | 99.53% | 52% |
| Charleston Cosmetology Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Charleston, SC | $19,500 | 100 | - | 55% |
| College of Charleston Public, four-years | Charleston, SC | $38,296 ($12,978) | 11,926 | 60.03% | 66% |
| Northeastern Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Cheraw, SC | $6,024 ($6,024) | 1,428 | - | 21% |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina Public, four-years | Charleston, SC | $38,508 ($12,570) | 3,793 | 22.72% | 75% |
| Claflin University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Orangeburg, SC | $17,046 | 1,852 | 64.93% | 52% |
| Clemson University Public, four-years | Clemson, SC | $40,866 ($15,554) | 29,077 | 38.34% | 87% |
| Clinton College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Rock Hill, SC | $11,136 | 126 | - | 14% |
| Coker University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Hartsville, SC | $33,416 | 1,325 | 93.96% | 40% |
| Columbia International University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $27,900 | 2,914 | 94.47% | 47% |
| Columbia College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $20,054 | 1,725 | 93.93% | 37% |
| Converse University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Spartanburg, SC | $25,240 | 1,787 | 67.74% | 62% |
| Denmark Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Denmark, SC | $11,955 ($6,315) | 675 | - | 13% |
| Erskine College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Due West, SC | $36,710 | 912 | 62.74% | 45% |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Florence, SC | $6,772 ($4,900) | 3,522 | - | 34% |
| Francis Marion University Public, four-years | Florence, SC | $21,544 ($11,170) | 4,112 | 86.39% | 43% |
| Furman University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Greenville, SC | $59,770 | 2,554 | 42.95% | 79% |
| Greenville Technical College Public, four-years | Greenville, SC | $10,775 ($6,143) | 11,999 | - | 21% |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Conway, SC | $10,978 ($6,778) | 7,923 | - | 38% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | North Augusta, SC | $18,762 | 118 | - | 43% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Columbia, SC | $18,762 | 127 | - | 54% |
| Lander University Public, four-years | Greenwood, SC | $21,300 ($11,700) | 4,378 | 81.31% | 50% |
| Limestone University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Gaffney, SC | $27,800 | 1,807 | 97.26% | 35% |
| Medical University of South Carolina Public, four-years | Charleston, SC | $30,380 ($16,972) | 3,246 | - | - |
| Midlands Technical College Public, 2-4 years | West Columbia, SC | $14,700 ($6,300) | 9,226 | - | 18% |
| Morris College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Sumter, SC | $16,664 | 383 | - | 17% |
| Newberry College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Newberry, SC | $31,100 | 1,536 | 89.79% | 45% |
| North Greenville University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Tigerville, SC | $25,800 | 2,304 | 66.67% | 55% |
| Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Orangeburg, SC | $8,354 ($6,242) | 2,106 | - | 32% |
| Piedmont Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Greenwood, SC | $6,923 ($5,675) | 5,143 | - | 33% |
| Presbyterian College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Clinton, SC | $44,910 | 1,095 | 68.37% | 51% |
| University of South Carolina Aiken Public, four-years | Aiken, SC | $21,218 ($10,760) | 4,022 | 78.54% | 40% |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort Public, four-years | Bluffton, SC | $21,776 ($10,730) | 2,208 | 72.50% | 34% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia Public, four-years | Columbia, SC | $36,298 ($12,688) | 38,532 | 60.15% | 79% |
| University of South Carolina-Lancaster Public, 2-4 years | Lancaster, SC | $18,238 ($7,558) | 2,687 | 83.44% | 25% |
| University of South Carolina-Salkehatchie Public, 2-4 years | Allendale, SC | $18,238 ($7,558) | 799 | 75.99% | 30% |
| University of South Carolina-Sumter Public, 2-4 years | Sumter, SC | $18,238 ($7,558) | 1,845 | 74.06% | 39% |
| University of South Carolina-Union Public, 2-4 years | Union, SC | $18,238 ($7,558) | 1,402 | 62.22% | 48% |
| Coastal Carolina University Public, four-years | Conway, SC | $29,628 ($11,640) | 11,348 | 75.27% | 48% |
| South Carolina State University Public, four-years | Orangeburg, SC | $21,750 ($11,060) | 3,242 | 82.62% | 37% |
| University of South Carolina-Upstate Public, four-years | Spartanburg, SC | $23,090 ($11,588) | 4,916 | 67.26% | 43% |
| Spartanburg Methodist College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Spartanburg, SC | $20,650 | 1,119 | 78.16% | 43% |
| Spartanburg Community College Public, 2-4 years | Spartanburg, SC | $10,135 ($6,223) | 6,653 | - | 28% |
| Central Carolina Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Sumter, SC | $9,016 ($6,594) | 2,825 | - | 34% |
| Tri-County Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Pendleton, SC | $12,007 ($6,224) | 5,890 | - | 42% |
| Trident Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Charleston, SC | $8,620 ($5,050) | 13,552 | - | 30% |
| Voorhees University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Denmark, SC | $12,630 | 578 | - | 43% |
| Williamsburg Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Kingstree, SC | $8,592 ($4,800) | 668 | - | 15% |
| Winthrop University Public, four-years | Rock Hill, SC | $28,676 ($14,678) | 4,894 | 79.25% | 57% |
| Wofford College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Spartanburg, SC | $56,005 | 1,817 | 51.94% | 84% |
| York Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Rock Hill, SC | $13,340 ($8,396) | 4,771 | - | 30% |
| South University-Columbia Private (for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $17,895 | 504 | - | 23% |
| Academy of Hair Technology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Greenville, SC | $6,300 | 58 | - | 100% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Rock Hill, SC | $8,692 | 181 | - | 71% |
| Strand College of Hair Design Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Myrtle Beach, SC | $15,000 | 70 | - | 75% |
| Miller-Motte College-Charleston Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 9 | - | 87% |
| Southeastern College-Charleston Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | North Charleston, SC | $25,080 | 226 | 98.08% | 67% |
| LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Camden, SC | $15,000 | 33 | - | 87% |
| Southeastern College-Columbia Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Columbia, SC | $25,080 | 267 | 97.32% | 67% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Spartanburg, SC | $8,692 | 113 | - | 69% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Columbia, SC | $8,692 | 64 | - | 84% |
| Charleston School of Law Private (for-profit), four-years | Charleston, SC | - | 692 | - | - |
| Academy for Careers and Technology Public, less than 2-years | Mullins, SC | $6,300 ($6,300) | 37 | - | 57% |
| Strayer University-South Carolina Private (for-profit), four-years | Greenville, SC | $13,920 | 2,110 | - | 17% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Florence, SC | $18,762 | 172 | - | 80% |
| Fortis College-Columbia Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Columbia, SC | $14,777 | 582 | - | 43% |
| Miller-Motte College-Conway Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Conway, SC | $25,240 | 3 | - | 78% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | West Columbia, SC | $18,575 | 256 | - | 69% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | North Charleston, SC | $18,575 | 264 | - | 75% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Greenville, SC | $18,762 | 157 | - | 79% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Greenville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Greenville, SC | $18,575 | 196 | - | 55% |
| American College of the Building Arts Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Charleston, SC | $21,500 | 155 | 44.44% | 62% |
| Arclabs Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Piedmont, SC | $20,300 | 744 | - | 76% |
| Top of the Line Barber College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Charleston, SC | $18,475 | 45 | - | 23% |
| Barber Tech Academy Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Orangeburg, SC | $16,825 | 59 | - | 11% |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Goose Creek, SC | $8,692 | 152 | - | 84% |
| Southeastern Esthetics Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Elgin, SC | $9,500 | 358 | - | 90% |
| Vski Cosmetology School Private (not-for-profit), less than 2-years | Charleston, SC | $15,600 | 31 | - | 80% |
| Personal Touch Beauty and Barber College Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Kingstree, SC | $16,500 | 7 | - | 100% |
| Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Myrtle Beach, SC | $16,364 | 743 | - | - |
| Barber Tech Academy-Columbia Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Columbia, SC | $17,135 | 51 | - | - |
| ECPI University-Greenville Private (for-profit), four-years | Greenville, SC | $18,484 | - | - | - |
| ECPI University-Charleston Private (for-profit), four-years | North Charleston, SC | $18,484 | - | - | - |
| ECPI University-Columbia Private (for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $18,484 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Columbia Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | Columbia, SC | $13,920 | - | - | - |
| Strayer University-Charleston Campus Private (for-profit), four-years | North Charleston, SC | $13,920 | - | - | - |
Related South Carolina Statistics
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between South Carolina Best Schools
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between All South Carolina Schools
- Core Statistics for College Graduation Rate Stats at South Carolina
- Average South Carolina Graduation Rate Statistics
- Colleges with Highest Graduation Rate in South Carolina
- Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rate in South Carolina
- Lowest Students to Faculty Ratio in South Carolina
- Highest Students to Faculty Ratio in South Carolina