by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding GSW 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.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 66% students making it past their freshmen year, GSW has freshmen retention rates similar to 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 | 66% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
Of the 441 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 11% of the cohort graduated. After six years 41% had completed their degree, and 43% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official GSW graduation rate 41%.
The average length of time it takes an GSW undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.62 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 365 | 34% |
| Six Years | 441 | 41% |
| Eight Years | 28 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 614 | 57% |
Approximately 614 students or 57% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 614 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
441 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 167 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.3% |
| Transferred | 441 | 71.8% |
| Dropped Out | 167 | 27.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 50% |
| Black / African-American | 25% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 33% |
| International | 75% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 38% |
| Unknown | 100% |
| White | 40% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
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.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Georgia Southwestern State University represent 39% of the students in the class of 2015, and 23.36% of GSW bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 11%, first-time students in the GSW class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the GSW graduation rate was 25%, and by the eight year mark, 29% 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 | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 11% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 25% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 29% | 47.82% |
298 first-time / full-time students or 71% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
234 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 62 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 0.67% |
| Transferred | 234 | 78.52% |
| Dropped Out | 62 | 20.81% |
First-time / part-time students at Georgia Southwestern State University represent 2.95% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 3%, first-time, part-time students in the GSW class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 3%.
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 | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 3% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 3% | 23.72% |
31 first-time / part-time students or 97% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 6 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 25 | 80.65% |
| Dropped Out | 6 | 19.35% |
396 GSW students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 36.50% 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 60%, 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 61%.
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 | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 60% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 61% | 55.07% |
155 non first-time / part-time students or 39% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
113 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 40 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.29% |
| Transferred | 113 | 72.90% |
| Dropped Out | 40 | 25.81% |
236 GSW students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 21.75% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 42%, 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 45%.
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 | GSW | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 42% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 45% | 37.80% |
130 non first-time / part-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
69 transferred to another institution.
GSW lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 1.54% |
| Transferred | 69 | 53.08% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 45.38% |
