Fall 2016 Entering Cohort
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Overview
This page presents transfer and bachelor’s degree completion outcomes for first-time, degree-seeking students who began at the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Fall 2016.
The report tracks:
- Transfer to four-year institutions
- Completion of credentials before transfer
- Bachelor’s degree attainment after transfer
Data reflect student outcomes over a six-year period (through Spring 2022) and are provided by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Key Takeaways
- Transfer-out rate: 31.02% (in line with national average)
- Transfer with award: 8.62% (far below national benchmark ~45%)
- Bachelor’s completion after transfer: 22.41% (vs. ~49% nationally)
- Overall bachelor’s completion (entire cohort): 6.95% (vs. ~15% nationally)
Insight: TCL students transfer at similar rates to peers nationally, but are significantly less likely to:
- Transfer with a credential
- Complete a bachelor’s degree after transfer
Transfer-Out Rates
- TCL: 31.02%
- National Benchmark: 31.22%
Observation:
TCL performs on par nationally in terms of students transferring to four-year institutions.
Transfer with Award (Credential Before Transfer)
- TCL: 8.62%
- National Benchmark: 45.18%
Observation:
A major gap exists in students earning a credential before transferring.
This is one of the most significant opportunity areas.
Bachelor’s Completion After Transfer
- TCL: 22.41%
- National Benchmark: 49.14%
Observation:
TCL transfer students complete bachelor’s degrees at less than half the national rate.
Overall Bachelor’s Completion (Entire Cohort)
- TCL: 6.95%
- National Benchmark: 15.34%
Insight:
When looking at the full cohort—not just transfer students—TCL outcomes are significantly lower than national averages.
By Student Demographics
Gender
- Transfer Rate
- Women: 29.25%
- Men: 33.33%
- Bachelor’s Completion (after transfer)
- Women: 12.9%
- Men: 33.33%
- Overall Bachelor’s Completion
- Women: 3.77%
- Men: 11.11%
Observation:
Men transfer at slightly higher rates and have substantially higher bachelor’s completion outcomes.
Income
- Transfer Rate
- Lower Income: 33.78%
- Higher Income: 31.37%
- Bachelor’s Completion (after transfer)
- Lower Income: 8%
- Higher Income: 43.75%
- Overall Bachelor’s Completion
- Lower Income: 2.7%
- Higher Income: 13.73%
Observation:
Income level strongly correlates with bachelor’s degree completion outcomes.
Key Observations
- Transfer rates are not the issue—TCL is aligned with national averages
- The largest gaps occur in:
- Credential completion before transfer
- Bachelor’s completion after transfer
- Equity gaps exist by:
- Income (especially pronounced)
- Gender (favoring male students in this cohort)
- Students transferring without credentials may be at higher risk of non-completion
Definitions
- Transfer-Out: Student enrolls at a four-year institution
- Transfer with Award: Student earns a credential at TCL before transferring
- Bachelor’s Completion: Student earns a bachelor’s degree after transfer
- Cohort: First-time, degree-seeking students entering Fall 2016
Important Notes
- Data track students across institutions nationally, not just at TCL
- Includes outcomes through Spring 2022 (six-year tracking window)
- National benchmarks reflect two-year public institutions
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.