Fall 2019–2023 Entering Cohorts
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Overview
This page presents student retention and persistence outcomes for first-time college students entering the Technical College of the Lowcountry between Fall 2019 and Fall 2023.
- Retention = Students who return to TCL the following year
- Persistence = Students who continue at any institution (including transfers)
Data are provided by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center and reflect national enrollment tracking across institutions.
Key Takeaways
- Overall retention ranges: ~42% – 48%
- Overall persistence ranges: ~50% – 54%
- Full-time students persist at significantly higher rates than part-time students
- TCL trails national averages in both persistence and retention
Important: Recent cohorts (especially 2023) may be slightly underreported due to delayed data submissions.
Overall Retention & Persistence Trends (2019–2023)
- 2019 Cohort
- Retention: 45.45%
- Persistence: 50.41%
- 2020 Cohort
- Retention: 42.77%
- Persistence: 50.77%
- 2021 Cohort
- Retention: 48.26%
- Persistence: 53.82%
- 2022 Cohort
- Retention: 46.37%
- Persistence: 51.40%
- 2023 Cohort
- Retention: 44.40%
- Persistence: 52.35%
By Enrollment Intensity
Full-Time Students
- Retention: ~50% – 60%
- Persistence: ~58% – 67%
Part-Time Students
- Retention: ~35% – 40%
- Persistence: ~42% – 46%
Insight: Full-time students are consistently 15–25 percentage points more likely to persist than part-time students.
National Comparison
Two-Year Public Institutions (National Averages)
- Retention: ~54% – 57%
- Persistence: ~60% – 64%
Key Gap
- TCL trails national persistence by roughly 8–12 percentage points
- TCL trails national retention by roughly 10+ percentage points
By Age at Entry
TCL Students
Age 20 and Younger
- Persistence: ~51% – 55%
- Retention: ~41% – 48%
Age 21–24
- More variable due to smaller sample sizes
- Persistence ranges from ~29% to ~58%
Over Age 24
- Persistence: ~38% – 54%
- Retention: ~31% – 54%
Insight: Younger students show the most consistent outcomes, while older groups fluctuate more due to smaller cohorts.
Persistence by Race/Ethnicity
TCL Highlights
- White students: ~49% – 59% persistence
- Hispanic students: ~47% – 56%
- Black students: ~33% – 49%
- Two or More Races: variable (~39% – 67%)
Observation:
- Hispanic and White students show relatively stronger persistence rates
- Black student persistence is consistently lower than other groups
Retention by Race/Ethnicity
TCL Highlights
- Hispanic students: ~46% – 50% retention
- White students: ~37% – 51%
- Black students: ~30% – 44%
Observation:
- Retention gaps mirror persistence gaps
- Some volatility due to smaller subgroup sizes
Key Observations
- Full-time enrollment is the strongest predictor of success
- TCL retention and persistence rates are consistently below national averages
- Equity gaps exist across racial/ethnic groups
- Part-time students represent the highest-risk group for attrition
- Pandemic-era cohorts (2020–2022) show variability but no dramatic collapse
Definitions
- Retention: Continued enrollment at TCL into the next fall term
- Persistence: Continued enrollment at any institution into the next fall term
- Full-Time / Part-Time: Based on first-term enrollment intensity
Important Notes
- Data include student movement across institutions, unlike IPEDS
- Some recent-year data may be incomplete due to reporting delays
- Small subgroup sizes can cause variability in percentages
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.