by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Georgia State retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 81% students making it past their freshmen year, Georgia State has freshmen retention rates above 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 | |
|---|---|
| Georgia State | 81% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
Of the 4,044 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 22% of the cohort graduated. After six years 53% had completed their degree, and 56% after eight years.
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 Georgia State graduation rate 53%.
The average length of time it takes an Georgia State undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.61 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,774 | 36% |
| Six Years | 4,044 | 53% |
| Eight Years | 224 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 3,363 | 44% |
Approximately 3363 students or 44% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 3363 students who did not complete their degree?
58 are still enrolled.
1043 transferred to another institution.
Georgia State lost contact with the remaining 2202 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 1.7% |
| Transferred | 1043 | 31.0% |
| Dropped Out | 2,202 | 65.5% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 54% |
| Hawaiian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 59% |
| International | 64% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 53% |
| Unknown | 32% |
| White | 49% |
Some schools have mainly first-time, full-time students, while others cater to part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. For a variety of reasons first-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are usually more likely to graduate in four years.
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 Georgia State are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Comparing the graduation rates of specific cohorts shown below will be more revealing than the overall statistics shared above.
First-time / full-time students at Georgia State University represent 40% of the students in the class of 2015, and 38.65% of Georgia State bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 22%, first-time students in the Georgia State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Georgia State graduation rate was 52%, and by the eight year mark, 56% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Georgia State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 22% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 52% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 47.82% |
1329 first-time / full-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
58 are still enrolled.
533 transferred to another institution.
Georgia State lost contact with the remaining 734 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 58 | 4.36% |
| Transferred | 533 | 40.11% |
| Dropped Out | 734 | 55.23% |
First-time / part-time students at Georgia State University represent 1.45% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 23%, first-time, part-time students in the Georgia State class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Georgia State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 10% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 23% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
77 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
21 transferred to another institution.
Georgia State lost contact with the remaining 52 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 5.19% |
| Transferred | 21 | 27.27% |
| Dropped Out | 52 | 67.53% |
2937 Georgia State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 38.49% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 63%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 64%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Georgia State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 63% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 64% | 55.07% |
1046 non first-time / part-time students or 36% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
29 are still enrolled.
257 transferred to another institution.
Georgia State lost contact with the remaining 760 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 29 | 2.77% |
| Transferred | 257 | 24.57% |
| Dropped Out | 760 | 72.66% |
1563 Georgia State students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 20.48% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 39%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 42%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | Georgia State | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 39% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 37.80% |
911 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
23 are still enrolled.
232 transferred to another institution.
Georgia State lost contact with the remaining 656 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 23 | 2.52% |
| Transferred | 232 | 25.47% |
| Dropped Out | 656 | 72.01% |
