by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many GSW first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at GSW. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 58% students making it past their freshmen year, GSW has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Georgia, the average is 65.40%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| GSW | 58% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
How many of the estimated 404 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 32% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 42% of the students had graduated and after eight years 43% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical GSW graduation rate 42%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 308 | 32% |
| Six Years | 404 | 42% |
| Eight Years | 14 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 545 | 57% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 545 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 545 students who did not complete their degree?
6 are still enrolled.
387 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 145 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.1% |
| Transferred | 387 | 71.0% |
| Dropped Out | 145 | 26.6% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 20% |
| Black / African-American | 28% |
| Hispanic | 35% |
| International | 29% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 50% |
| White | 33% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at GSW are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Georgia Southwestern State University represent 50.05% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GSW graduation rate was 36%, and by the eight year mark, 37% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 36% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 47.82% |
302 first-time / full-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
235 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.65% |
| Transferred | 235 | 77.81% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 19.54% |
First-time / part-time students at Georgia Southwestern State University represent 2.80% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GSW graduation rate was 11%, and by the eight year mark, 11% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 11% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 11% | 23.72% |
24 first-time / part-time students or 89% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 3 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 4.17% |
| Transferred | 20 | 83.33% |
| Dropped Out | 3 | 12.50% |
Returning / full-time students at Georgia Southwestern State University represent 29.08% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GSW graduation rate was 60%, and by the eight year mark, 61% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
109 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
67 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.92% |
| Transferred | 67 | 61.47% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 37.61% |
Returning / part-time students at Georgia Southwestern State University represent 18.07% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the GSW graduation rate was 34%, and by the eight year mark, 37% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 29% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 34% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 37% | 37.80% |
110 non first-time / part-time students or 63% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
65 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 42 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.73% |
| Transferred | 65 | 59.09% |
| Dropped Out | 42 | 38.18% |
