Student Achievement at Georgia State University
Fostering Student Success
At Georgia State University, fostering student learning and success is central to our mission. We design and enhance educational experiences that support the goals of our diverse student body and academic programs.
To document, evaluate, and improve student success, we track key achievement indicators aligned with our institutional goals. These metrics are set by academic leadership and shared publicly to ensure transparency and accountability.
In alignment with Section 8.1 of the SACSCOC accreditation standards, we identify, evaluate, and publish goals and outcomes for student achievement. Using multiple measures, we provide a comprehensive understanding of our students’ accomplishments and progress.
For more information about these initiatives, please visit Georgia State University Student Success Initiatives.
Student Achievement Indicators
Georgia State University measures student success using a variety of metrics aligned with our mission and the needs of the students we serve. While we track numerous indicators, this page highlights the following key measures:
Retention Rates
The retention rate represents the percentage of full-time, first-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students who were enrolled in the previous fall semester and returned for the current fall semester.
Graduation Rates
The graduation rate reflects the percentage of full-time, first-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students who graduate within 150% of the standard time for their program. For bachelor’s degree students at Georgia State University - Atlanta, this timeframe is six years. For associate degree students at Georgia State University - Perimeter, it is three years.
Graduate Degree Awards
The graduate degree awards reflect Georgia State University’s contributions to advanced education through the completion of master’s, Ph.D., and professional doctoral programs.
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Master’s Degree Production Rate
The ratio of master’s degrees awarded annually to full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment. Georgia State benchmarks its performance against peer institutions to promote timely degree completion for its diverse graduate student body. -
Doctoral Degrees (Research / Scholarship) Conferred
The total number of doctoral (research / scholarship) degrees awarded annually. As a Carnegie R1 research university, Georgia State exceeds the minimum requirement of 70 doctoral research degrees per year, underscoring its dedication to graduate education and research excellence. -
Doctoral Degrees (Professional Practice) Conferred
The total number of professional and other doctoral degrees awarded annually, including JDs, DNPs, and DPTs. Georgia State sets benchmarks against peer institutions without medical schools, reflecting its leadership in professional doctoral education.
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Campus-Specific Achievement and Peer Comparisons
To provide a comprehensive view of student success, Georgia State University examines retention and graduation rates at both the Atlanta and Perimeter campuses. Additionally, these metrics are benchmarked against peer institutions to evaluate performance in a broader context and identify opportunities for continued improvement. For more information about our peers, please visit Georgia State University Peer Institutions.
Retention Rate by Total Cohort
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 total cohort, which was 75.0%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 80.5% | 79.5% | 79.5% | 82.0% | 81.0% | 81.0% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 83.0% | 84.0% | 82.0% | 81.0% | 75.0% | 78.0% |
Retention Rates by Sex
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 male cohort, which was 71.8%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Female | 85.5% | 83.8% | 82.6% | 81.7% | 75.6% | 77.9% |
| Male | 79.0% | 81.9% | 77.6% | 76.7% | 71.8% | 75.2% |
Retention Rates by Race/Ethnicity
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 Hispanic/Latino cohort, which was 74.3%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 85.9% | 85.4% | 83.3% | 81.9% | 75.0% | 77.0% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 81.4% | 83.9% | 83.0% | 81.6% | 74.3% | 79.4% |
Retention Rates by Pell Eligibility
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 Pell cohort, which was 73.2%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Pell Eligible | 82.7% | 83.6% | 81.0% | 81.6% | 73.2% | 76.4% |
Retention Rates by First-Generation
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 first-generation cohort, which was 71.5%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| First-Generation | 82.1% | 83.6% | 80.0% | 79.3% | 71.5% | 76.3% |
Data Source
OIR/IPEDS
Notes
- Cohort Definition: Includes First-Time, Full-Time Freshman students unless otherwise noted.
- Cohort Year: Refers to the year students entered Georgia State University.
- Undergraduate Populations: Georgia State University serves distinct undergraduate populations. Perimeter College offers associate degree programs, while the Atlanta Campus offers bachelor's degree programs.
- Retention Rate Updates: The retention rate reported may differ slightly from IPEDS due to updates made after the IPEDS data collection period.
- First-Generation Status: Defined as students whose parents did not complete education beyond high school, based on self-reported application data.
- Peer Institutions: Georgia State University’s comparator peer group is used for benchmarking and can be viewed here.
Six-Year Graduation Rates - Total Cohort
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 55% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 45.7% | ||||
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 55.0% | 57.5% | 57.5% | 59.0% | 61.0% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 54.0% | 55.0% | 53.0% | 56.0% | 55.0% |
Six-Year Graduation Rates - Women
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 55% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 47.0% | ||||
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 56.5% | 59.5% | 61.0% | 62.0% | 64.5% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 61.0% | 60.0% | 58.0% | 62.0% | 60.0% |
Six-Year Graduation Rates - Men
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 55% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 43.5% | ||||
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 50.5% | 53.0% | 53.5% | 54.5% | 56.5% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 46.0% | 47.0% | 46.0% | 49.0% | 47.0% |
Six-Year Graduation Rates - Black, Non-Hispanic
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 55% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 47.2% | ||||
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 48.5% | 48.0% | 54.0% | 53.0% | 55.5% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 57.0% | 59.0% | 54.0% | 57.0% | 56.0% |
Six-Year Graduation Rates - Hispanic / Latino
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 55% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 44.8% | ||||
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 54.5% | 54.5% | 57.0% | 56.0% | 52.5% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 57.0% | 58.0% | 59.0% | 57.0% | 58.0% |
Six-Year Graduation Rates - Pell
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Atlanta peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 55% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 45.5% | ||||
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 48.0% | 51.5% | 51.5% | 50.5% | 56.0% |
| Georgia State University - Atlanta | 54.0% | 54.0% | 53.0% | 54.0% | 54.0% |
Data Source
OIR/IPEDS
Notes
- Cohort Definition: Includes First-Time, Full-Time Freshman students unless otherwise noted.
- Cohort Year: Refers to the year students entered Georgia State University.
- Graduation Rate: This rate, required for reporting under Student Right-to-Know, is calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the cohort, excluding allowable exceptions.
- Graduation Year: Reflects the percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduate students who graduate within 150% of the standard time. This is six years for bachelor’s degree students at Georgia State University - Atlanta and three years for associate degree students at Perimeter College.
- Undergraduate Populations: Georgia State University serves distinct undergraduate populations. Perimeter College offers associate degree programs, while the Atlanta Campus offers bachelor's degree programs.
- First-Generation Status: Defined as students whose parents did not complete education beyond high school, based on self-reported application data.
- Peer Institutions: Georgia State University’s comparator peer group is used for benchmarking and can be viewed here.
Retention Rate by Total Cohort
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 total cohort, which was 64.0%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 64.0% | 61.0% | 65.0% | 59.0% | 64.0% | 63.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 67.0% | 66.0% | 69.0% | 68.0% | 64.0% | 68.0% |
Retention Rates by Sex
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 male cohort, which was 59.8%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Female | 68.1% | 66.5% | 70.2% | 71.8% | 65.9% | 70.3% |
| Male | 67.2% | 65.7% | 68.1% | 63.5% | 59.8% | 65.7% |
Retention Rates by Race/Ethnicity
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 Black, Non-Hispanic cohort, which was 60.8%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Black, Non-Hispanic | 63.6% | 63.7% | 65.5% | 64.0% | 60.8% | 66.3% |
| Hispanic / Latino | 76.0% | 72.9% | 77.2% | 73.2% | 64.0% | 74.1% |
Retention Rates by Pell Eligibility
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 Pell cohort, which was 65.1%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Pell Eligible | 66.2% | 63.9% | 68.5% | 67.5% | 65.1% | 69.1% |
Retention Rates by First-Generation
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- Goal: Retention rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: One-year retention rate for the 2020 first-generation cohort, which was 64.0%.
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| Cohort Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| First-Generation | 66.7% | 66.1% | 70.1% | 68.4% | 64.0% | 70.1% |
Data Source
OIR/IPEDS
Notes
- Cohort Definition: Includes First-Time, Full-Time Freshman students unless otherwise noted.
- Cohort Year: Refers to the year students entered Georgia State University.
- Undergraduate Populations: Georgia State University serves distinct undergraduate populations. Perimeter College offers associate degree programs, while the Atlanta Campus offers bachelor's degree programs.
- Retention Rate Updates: The retention rate reported may differ slightly from IPEDS due to updates made after the IPEDS data collection period.
- First-Generation Status: Defined as students whose parents did not complete education beyond high school, based on self-reported application data.
- Peer Institutions: Georgia State University’s comparator peer group is used for benchmarking and can be viewed here.
Three-Year Graduation Rates - Total Cohort
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 25% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 16.8% | 16.5% | 17.3% | 17.0% | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 19.0% | 21.0% | 27.0% | 26.0% | 24.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 15.0% | 18.0% | 22.0% | 24.0% | 22.0% |
Three-Year Graduation Rates - Women
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 25% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 17.0% | 16.6% | 17.6% | 18.0% | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 20.0% | 23.0% | 32.0% | 28.0% | 26.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 17.0% | 22.0% | 26.0% | 27.0% | 25.0% |
Three-Year Graduation Rates - Men
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 25% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 16.8% | 16.4% | 17.0% | 15.9% | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 17.0% | 19.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 12.0% | 14.0% | 18.0% | 19.0% | 18.0% |
Three-Year Graduation Rates - Black, Non-Hispanic
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 25% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 15.9% | 15.9% | 16.4% | 16.0% | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 14.0% | 15.0% | 17.0% | 12.0% | 17.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 11.0% | 15.0% | 20.0% | 19.0% | 18.0% |
Three-Year Graduation Rates - Hispanic / Latino
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 25% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 19.0% | 18.2% | 19.3% | 18.3% | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 16.0% | 19.0% | 21.0% | 18.0% | 18.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 13.0% | 23.0% | 24.0% | 27.0% | 25.0% |
Three-Year Graduation Rates - Pell
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- Goal: Graduation rate at or above the median of GSU-Perimeter peer institutions, indicating top-half performance.
- Threshold: The minimum threshold for graduation is calculated as 25% of the one-year retention rate for each cohort.
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| Graduation Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
| Threshold of Acceptability | 16.6% | 16.0% | 17.1% | 16.9% | |
| Comparator Peers (Median) | 15.0% | 18.0% | 24.0% | 21.0% | 19.0% |
| Georgia State University - Perimeter | 15.0% | 17.0% | 22.0% | 22.0% | 22.0% |
Data Source
OIR/IPEDS
Notes
- Cohort Definition: Includes First-Time, Full-Time Freshman students unless otherwise noted.
- Cohort Year: Refers to the year students entered Georgia State University.
- Graduation Rate: This rate, required for reporting under Student Right-to-Know, is calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the cohort, excluding allowable exceptions.
- Graduation Year: Reflects the percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduate students who graduate within 150% of the standard time. This is six years for bachelor’s degree students at Georgia State University - Atlanta and three years for associate degree students at Perimeter College.
- Undergraduate Populations: Georgia State University serves distinct undergraduate populations. Perimeter College offers associate degree programs, while the Atlanta Campus offers bachelor's degree programs.
- First-Generation Status: Defined as students whose parents did not complete education beyond high school, based on self-reported application data.
- Peer Institutions: Georgia State University’s comparator peer group is used for benchmarking and can be viewed here.
Master's Degree Production Rate
- Calculation: The ratio of master’s degrees awarded annually to full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment.
- Target: Master’s degree production rate at or above 6%, slightly exceeding the peer median of 5.4%, to ensure top-half performance among peer institutions.
- Threshold: Master’s degree production rate of 4%, slightly above the peer minimum of 3.8%, accounting for the challenges faced by GSU’s diverse and working graduate student body.
| Degree Production Rate - Master's | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year | Threshold of Acceptability | Degree Production Rate | Target | Peer Institutions (Min - Max) |
| 2021-22 | 4% | 6.4% (n = 2,172) | 6% | 3.8% - 12.1% |
| 2020-21 | 4% | 5.5% (n = 1,921) | 6% | 3.8% - 12.0% |
| 2019-20 | 4% | 5.7% (n = 2,003) | 6% | 3.8% - 11.4% |
| 2018-19 | 4% | 5.7% (n = 1,927) | 6% | 3.8% - 11.1% |
| 2017-18 | 4% | 6.4% (n = 2,100) | 6% | 3.8% - 11.8% |
Doctoral Degrees Conferred - Research / Scholarship
- Calculation: The total number of doctoral (research / scholarship) degrees conferred annually.
- Target: Doctoral (research / scholarship) degrees conferred at or above 260 annually, exceeding the peer group average and ensuring top-half performance among peer institutions.
- Threshold: Doctoral (research / scholarship) degrees conferred at 130 annually, slightly above the peer minimum of 129 and nearly double the R1 classification requirement.
| Degrees Conferred – Research/Scholarship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year | Threshold of Acceptability | Actual | Target |
| 2021-22 | 130 | 262 | 260 |
| 2020-21 | 130 | 252 | 260 |
| 2019-20 | 130 | 234 | 260 |
| 2018-19 | 130 | 273 | 260 |
| 2017-18 | 130 | 259 | 260 |
Doctoral Degrees Conferred - Professional and Other
- Calculation: The total number of professional and other doctoral degrees conferred annually.
- Target: Professional and other doctoral degrees conferred at or above 250 annually, exceeding peer averages and maintaining leadership among institutions without medical schools.
- Threshold: Professional and other doctoral degrees conferred at 140 annually, above the peer maximum of 136, reflecting GSU’s leadership within this comparator group.
| Degrees Conferred – Professional Practice & All Other Doctoral | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year | Threshold of Acceptability | Actual | Target |
| 2021-22 | 140 | 260 | 250 |
| 2020-21 | 140 | 237 | 250 |
| 2019-20 | 140 | 248 | 250 |
| 2018-19 | 140 | 250 | 250 |
| 2017-18 | 140 | 226 | 250 |
Data Source
OIR/IPEDS
Notes
- Campus Programs: This section focuses on the Atlanta Campus, which offers graduate degree programs. Perimeter College, an associate-degree-granting college within Georgia State University, primarily offers associate degree programs.
- Doctor's Degree - Research/Scholarship: A Ph.D. or other doctor’s degree that requires advanced work beyond the master’s level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Examples include Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M., and others, as designated by the awarding institution. The full definition is available in IPEDS.
- Doctor's Degree - Professional Practice: A doctor’s degree conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. This degree requires at least six full-time equivalent academic years of combined pre-professional and professional study. Examples include Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (L.L.B. or J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry (O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution. The full definition is available in IPEDS.
- Peer Institutions: Georgia State University’s comparator peer group is used for benchmarking and can be viewed here.
Contact Us
Office of Institutional Effectiveness
(General Inquiries)
Address
1 Park Place Atlanta, GA 30303
10th Floor Suite 1040
