by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at Gordon? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 52% students making it past their freshmen year, Gordon 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 | |
|---|---|
| Gordon | 52% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Georgia | 65.40% |
Of the 408 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 16% of the cohort graduated. After six years 20% had completed their degree, and 22% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of Gordon is 20%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 325 | 16% |
| Six Years | 408 | 20% |
| Eight Years | 25 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,567 | 78% |
Approximately 1567 students or 78% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1567 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
1049 transferred to another institution.
Gordon lost contact with the remaining 505 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 1049 | 66.9% |
| Dropped Out | 505 | 32.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Asian | 14% |
| Black / African-American | 12% |
| Hispanic | 12% |
| International | 17% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 15% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 23% |
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 Gordon 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 Gordon State College represent 66% of the students in the class of 2015, and 65.20% of Gordon bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 16%, first-time students in the Gordon class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Gordon graduation rate was 20%, and by the eight year mark, 21% 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 | Gordon | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 16% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 20% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 21% | 47.82% |
1046 first-time / full-time students or 79% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
705 transferred to another institution.
Gordon lost contact with the remaining 334 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 705 | 67.40% |
| Dropped Out | 334 | 31.93% |
First-time / part-time students at Gordon State College represent 6.20% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 6%, first-time, part-time students in the Gordon class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 8%.
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 | Gordon | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 4% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 6% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 8% | 23.72% |
114 first-time / part-time students or 92% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
57 transferred to another institution.
Gordon lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 0.88% |
| Transferred | 57 | 50.00% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 49.12% |
303 Gordon students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 15.15% 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 29%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 31%.
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 | Gordon | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 29% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 55.07% |
210 non first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
151 transferred to another institution.
Gordon lost contact with the remaining 59 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 151 | 71.90% |
| Dropped Out | 59 | 28.10% |
246 Gordon students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 12.30% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 19%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate lower than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 20%.
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 | Gordon | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 37.80% |
197 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
5 are still enrolled.
136 transferred to another institution.
Gordon lost contact with the remaining 56 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 5 | 2.54% |
| Transferred | 136 | 69.04% |
| Dropped Out | 56 | 28.43% |
