Seven academic years of program data are presented in the areas of retention, degree completion, position relevancy, and graduation. Prior to and during the 2023-24 academic year, the program was housed under the USC Marshall School of Business. Enrollment was paused in the summer semester of 2023 while the curriculum was revised and transitioned to USC Bovard College, with enrollment restarting in the fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year.
Retention Rate
The table shows the percentages of students who complete their second semester of the program, a key milestone for students.
| Academic Year of Starting Students | Number of Starting Students | Number Retained in Second Semester | Retention Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 64 | 55 | 86% |
| 2018-19 | 45 | 43 | 96% |
| 2019-20 | 53 | 51 | 96% |
| 2020-21 | 46 | 44 | 96% |
| 2021-22 | 27 | 23 | 85% |
| 2022-23 | 23 | 21 | 91% |
| 2024-25 | 88 | 81 | 92% |
| Total | 346 | 318 | 92% |
Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, students are counted as retained based on enrollment at the end of the second semester. In years prior, retention was based on enrollment at the beginning of the second semester.
Average Number of Semesters to Degree Completion
The table shows the average number of semesters it takes for students to complete their degrees. Prior to the 2024-25 academic year, the program required a minimum of five semesters to complete. In the 2024-25 academic year, the curriculum was revised to allow students enrolled in a one-year track to complete their program of study in as few as three semesters and for students enrolled in a two-year track to complete in as few as six semesters. For the 2024-25 academic year, the average number of semesters to degree completion includes students enrolled in both the prior version of the program and one-year track students in the revised program.
| Academic Year of Graduating Students | Number of Graduates | Average Number of Semesters to Degree Completion |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 48 | 5 |
| 2019-20 | 34 | 5 |
| 2020-21 | 43 | 5 |
| 2021-22 | 49 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 28 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 25 | 5 |
| 2024-25 | 11 | 4 |
| Total | 238 | 5 |
Percentage of Graduates Holding Positions Relevant to the Degree
The table shows the average percentages of graduates who hold a position that is relevant to their degree for those graduates who provided post-graduation status data.
| Academic Year of Graduating Students | Number of Graduates | Percent of Graduates Providing Data | Percent with Relevant Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 22 | 68% | 74% |
| 2019-20 | 48 | 88% | 87% |
| 2020-21 | 34 | 92% | 83% |
| 2021-22 | 43 | 85% | 91% |
| 2022-23 | 49 | 67% | 81% |
| 2023-24 | 28 | 50% | 78% |
| 2024-25 | 25 | 64% | 81% |
| Total | 249 | 75% | 84% |
Graduation Rates
The table shows the percentages of students who completed their MMLIS degree within the five-year maximum timeframe allowable for master’s programs under university policy.
| Academic Year of Starting Students | Number of Starting Students | Number of Graduates | 5-Year Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 23 | 11 | 48% |
| 2014-15 | 29 | 23 | 79% |
| 2015-16 | 31 | 20 | 65% |
| 2016-17 | 40 | 30 | 75% |
| 2017-18 | 64 | 46 | 72% |
| 2018-19 | 45 | 35 | 78% |
| 2019-20 | 52 | 45 | 87% |
| Total | 284 | 210 | 74% |
More Info