Fall 2015 Entering Cohort
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Overview
This page presents a summary of student completion outcomes for first-time, degree-seeking students who began at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Fall 2015. Outcomes are tracked over a six-year period and compared to national benchmarks for two-year public institutions.
Data are provided by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and reflect enrollment and completion activity across institutions nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- Overall completion rate: 32.68%
- National benchmark: 42.17%
- Still enrolled after 6 years: 11.47%
- No longer enrolled: 55.85%
Insight: This cohort shows the strongest completion rate of the three (2015–2017), though still below national averages.
Completion by Enrollment Intensity
TCL Students
Overall (254 students)
- Completion Rate: 32.68%
- Still Enrolled: 11.47%
- Not Enrolled: 55.85%
Full-Time Only (30 students)
- Completion Rate: 63.33%
Part-Time Only (70 students)
- Completion Rate: 17.14%
Mixed Enrollment (154 students)
- Completion Rate: 33.77%
National Benchmark Comparison
Overall Completion Rate: 42.17%
- Full-Time: 66.09%
- Part-Time: 18.57%
- Mixed: 37.45%
Completion by Gender
TCL Students
- Men: 35.10% completion
- Women: 31.02% completion
Observation: Unlike later cohorts, men slightly outperformed women in this group.
National Comparison
- Men: 40.06%
- Women: 45.30%
Completion by Age at Entry
TCL Students
- Age 20 and younger: 30.16%
- Age 21–24: 28.06%
- Over 24: 44.00%
National Benchmark
- 20 and younger: 43.62%
- 21–24: 32.75%
- Over 24: 37.95%
Completion by Race/Ethnicity
TCL Students
- White: 39.01%
- Hispanic: 33.32%
- Black: 25.63%
- Asian: 60.00% (very small sample size)
- Two or More Races: 23.18%
National Benchmark
- White: 49.75%
- Hispanic: 36.82%
- Black: 30.13%
- Asian: 51.24%
Key Observations
- This cohort represents the highest completion rate among the three years reviewed (2015–2017).
- Full-time students again show dramatically stronger outcomes.
- Older students (over 24) had the highest completion rate at TCL.
- Equity gaps remain across racial/ethnic groups.
- TCL continues to trail national benchmarks across most categories.
Definitions and Methodology
- Cohort: First-time, degree-seeking students entering Fall 2015
- Timeframe: Six academic years
- Completion: Degree or certificate earned at any institution
- Persistence: Students still enrolled but not yet completed
Data are drawn from national enrollment and degree records covering approximately 96% of U.S. college enrollments.
Important Notes
- Results differ from IPEDS due to broader tracking (includes transfers and multi-institution outcomes)
- Includes both part-time and full-time students
- Reflects outcomes across institutions, not just TCL
Accessibility Notice
TCL is committed to ensuring that all users have access to our information. If you require assistance accessing content on this page or need the information in an alternative format, please contact us at accessibility@tcl.edu, and we will be happy to assist you.