by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many Savannah State University 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 Savannah State University. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes 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 75% students making it past their freshmen year, Savannah State University 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 | |
|---|---|
| Savannah State University | 75% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
There were approximately 495 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 20% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 29% of the students had graduated and after eight years 31% 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 Savannah State University graduation rate 29%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 330 | 20% |
| Six Years | 495 | 29% |
| Eight Years | 24 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1168 | 69% |
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 1168 students or 69% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1168 students who did not complete their degree?
3 are still enrolled.
733 transferred to another institution.
Savannah State University lost contact with the remaining 429 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 733 | 62.8% |
| Dropped Out | 429 | 36.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 25% |
| Black / African-American | 26% |
| Hispanic | 26% |
| International | 29% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 15% |
| Unknown | 33% |
| White | 15% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
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 Savannah State University are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Savannah State University represent 77.42% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Savannah State University graduation rate was 28%, and by the eight year mark, 30% 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 | Savannah State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 17% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 28% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 30% | 47.82% |
920 first-time / full-time students or 70% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
584 transferred to another institution.
Savannah State University lost contact with the remaining 331 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 0.54% |
| Transferred | 584 | 63.48% |
| Dropped Out | 331 | 35.98% |
First-time / part-time students at Savannah State University represent 3.68% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Savannah State University graduation rate was 5%, and by the eight year mark, 5% 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 | Savannah State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 3% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 5% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 5% | 23.72% |
59 first-time / part-time students or 95% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
32 transferred to another institution.
Savannah State University lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 32 | 54.24% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 45.76% |
Returning / full-time students at Savannah State University represent 15.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Savannah State University graduation rate was 43%, and by the eight year mark, 44% 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 | Savannah State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 43% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 44% | 55.07% |
142 non first-time / part-time students or 56% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
90 transferred to another institution.
Savannah State University lost contact with the remaining 52 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 90 | 63.38% |
| Dropped Out | 52 | 36.62% |
Returning / part-time students at Savannah State University represent 3.79% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Savannah State University graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 27% 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 | Savannah State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 19% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 22% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 27% | 37.80% |
47 non first-time / part-time students or 73% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
27 transferred to another institution.
Savannah State University lost contact with the remaining 19 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 2.13% |
| Transferred | 27 | 57.45% |
| Dropped Out | 19 | 40.43% |
