Chapter 10: Benedict College and Student Success Data

Sydney is a typical example of a pre-service teacher enrolled in the teacher education program at Benedict College. She chose to pursue her teacher education degree and prepare for the next phase of her life of becoming an exemplary teacher, using her knowledge and love of children to encourage the next generation of students through her education at Benedict College, a private HBCU in the midlands of South Carolina.

Benedict College, founded in 1870, is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution. With over 2,100 students enrolled in its 33 baccalaureate degree programs, Benedict has one of the largest undergraduate populations among the 20 private institutions in South Carolina and has become the third largest college in The College Fund/UNCF network. Of the new student population, 53% are in-state students, 44% are out-of-state residents, and 3% are international students. Examining the entire student population, 43% are in-state students; while, 57% are out-of-state students. The average age of Benedict students is 20.4 years old. 48% of the population is males; 52% are females (Benedict College, n.d.). Of the students whose parental educational level was known, 41% were first generation college students. Eighty-five percent received a Pell grant and 98% received some sort of financial aid. For first-time, full-time freshman, 70% have parental income between $0 and $30,000; 17% between $30,001 and $48,000; 8% between $48,001 and $75,000; and 5% over $75,000 (Benedict College Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, 2019).