by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many VSU 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 VSU. 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 72% students making it past their freshmen year, VSU 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 | |
|---|---|
| VSU | 72% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
There were approximately 1337 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed 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, 45% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% 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 VSU graduation rate 45%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 964 | 32% |
| Six Years | 1337 | 45% |
| Eight Years | 48 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1591 | 53% |
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 1591 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1591 students who did not complete their degree?
13 are still enrolled.
1066 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 489 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 1066 | 67.0% |
| Dropped Out | 489 | 30.7% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 67% |
| Asian | 58% |
| Black / African-American | 39% |
| Hawaiian | 33% |
| Hispanic | 41% |
| International | 62% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 44% |
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 VSU 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 Valdosta State University represent 52.76% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VSU graduation rate was 40%, and by the eight year mark, 42% 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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 23% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 40% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 42% | 47.82% |
911 first-time / full-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
14 are still enrolled.
642 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 255 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 14 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 642 | 70.47% |
| Dropped Out | 255 | 27.99% |
First-time / part-time students at Valdosta State University represent 2.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VSU graduation rate was 16%, and by the eight year mark, 19% 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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 16% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 19% | 23.72% |
66 first-time / part-time students or 81% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 12 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 4.55% |
| Transferred | 51 | 77.27% |
| Dropped Out | 12 | 18.18% |
Returning / full-time students at Valdosta State University represent 32.96% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VSU graduation rate was 57%, and by the eight year mark, 57% 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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 57% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 57% | 55.07% |
418 non first-time / part-time students or 43% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
12 are still enrolled.
260 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 12 | 2.87% |
| Transferred | 260 | 62.20% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 34.93% |
Returning / part-time students at Valdosta State University represent 11.56% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the VSU graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 43% 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 | VSU | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 35% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 41% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 43% | 37.80% |
196 non first-time / part-time students or 57% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
VSU lost contact with the remaining 76 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 3.57% |
| Transferred | 113 | 57.65% |
| Dropped Out | 76 | 38.78% |
