Updated March 10, 2025
EGSC Three-Year Transfer-Out Rate
First-Time, Full-Time Fall Semester Cohorts
Goal: 60 Percent; Threshold of Acceptability: 50 Percent
| Three-Year Transfer-Out Data | 2014 Cohort |
2015 Cohort |
2016 Cohort | 2017 Cohort | 2018 Cohort | Overall |
| Fall Cohort Number | 973 | 1,044 | 987 | 959 | 984 | 4,947 |
| Number Transferred-Out | 587 | 657 | 528 | 522 | 499 | 2,793 |
| 3 Year Transfer-Out Rate | 60% | 63% | 53% | 54% | 51% | 56% |
Definition: The rate of EGSC students in the first-time, full-time (FTFT) fall semester cohort who transfer to another institution within three years without first graduating with an associate degree from EGSC.
Key Finding: National data confirm that prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, over half of EGSC’s first-time full-time freshmen successfully transferred to another college or university of choice within three years of starting as beginning freshmen at EGSC. That high rate of student success is normally not seen when only examining 3-year graduation rates and first-year retention rates. The 3-year transfer-out rates for the 2019 through 2021 cohorts are expected to remain depressed by the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Still, these transfer-out results confirm that EGSC continues to accomplish its primary transfer mission.
EGSC Three-Year Graduation Rate
First-Time, Full-Time Fall Semester Cohorts
Goal: 20 Percent; Threshold of Acceptability: 12 Percent
| Three-Year Graduation Data |
2014 Cohort |
2015 Cohort |
2016 Cohort |
2017 Cohort | 2018 Cohort | Overall |
| Fall Cohort Number | 973 | 1,044 | 987 | 959 | 984 | 4,947 |
| Number Graduated | 133 | 131 | 130 | 132 | 164 | 690 |
| 3 Year Graduation Rate | 14% | 13% | 13% | 14% | 17% | 14% |
Definition: The rate of EGSC students in the first-time, full-time (FTFT) fall semester cohort who graduate from EGSC with an associate degree within three years.
Key Finding: There have been small percentage fluctuations in the 3-year graduation rates for associate degrees at EGSC over the last five years reported but 14% has been the average over that time. That may appear low, but when the 3-year graduation rate is added to the 3-year transfer-out rate for a specific cohort, it can be concluded that two-thirds of EGSC first-time full-time freshmen are successful in either achieving an associate degree or transferring out to another college or university of their choice. For example, of the 984 students in the Fall 2018 Cohort, 164 students (17%) graduated with an associate degree from EGSC and another 499 students (51%), who did not earn an EGSC associate degree, transferred successfully to another institution either within or outside of the University System of Georgia.
EGSC First-Year Retention Rate
First-Time, Full-Time Fall Semester Cohorts
Goal: 60 Percent; Threshold of Acceptability: 50 Percent
| One-Year Retention Data |
Fall 2019 |
Fall 2020 |
Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | Fall 2023 | Overall |
| Fall Cohort Number | 929 | 563 | 550 | 587 | 471 | 3,100 |
| Number Retained | 489 | 272 | 275 | 284 | 233 | 1,553 |
| 1 Year Retention Rate | 53% | 48% | 50% | 48% | 49% | 50% |
Definition: The rate of EGSC students in the first-time, full-time fall semester cohort who were retained at EGSC the following fall semester.
Key Finding: About half of EGSC’s first-time full-time freshmen each fall semester do not re-enroll at EGSC the following fall semester. However, the three-year transfer-out rates cited above suggest that a substantial number of these non-returning students successfully transferred to other colleges and universities, which is EGSC’s principal mission. While current one-year retention rates hover near the 50 percent Threshold of Acceptability for first-time full-time freshmen, raising the retention rates of all of its students is a key strategic priority of the College.
EGSC’s Rates of Successful Fall Semester Course Completions
Goal: 70 Percent; Threshold of Acceptability: 60 Percent
| Course Success Rates | Fall 2020 |
Fall 2021 |
Fall 2022 | Fall 2023 | Fall 2024 | Overall |
| On-Campus Course Success Rates | 61% | 60% | 60% | 67% | 63% | 62% |
| Online Course Success Rates | 63% | 58% | 62% | 63% | 62% | 62% |
| Course Success Outcomes Rate | 62% | 59% | 61% | 66% | 62% | 62% |
Definition: Course is completed successfully when a student earns a grade of A, B, or C for a course.
Key Finding: Despite a few variations, success rates of both on-campus and online courses have been similar over the last five fall semesters. Faculty are implementing high-impact practices, such as student learning communities, to raise course success rates.
EGSC Annual Number of Degrees Conferred
Goal: 300; Threshold of Acceptability: 225
| Fiscal Year |
2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | Avg/Year |
| Graduates | 303 | 322 | 282 | 239 | 227 | 275 |
Definition: Number of associate and baccalaureate degrees conferred by EGSC for each fiscal year (FY) starting with the summer semester and ending with the following spring semester.
Key Finding: EGSC is recovering from a seven year period of declining enrollment exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. In addition, the list of degrees EGSC offers has undergone dramatic change since FY 2020-21, when 16 of the College’s 19 academic degree programs were closed to new admissions. Since then, EGSC has launched meta-majors at the associate degree level in the natural sciences and the social sciences. In addition, EGSC offers two associate level and two baccalaureate level online eMajor degrees in cooperation with the University System of Georgia’s eCampus. In Spring Semester 2025, the College launched its Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. As its enrollment continues to increase, EGSC will revise upward its Threshold of Acceptability for annual number of degrees conferred. The College’s goal is to increase the number of degrees conferred annually to 300 by FY 2027-28.
