The number of students who earn a degree at a public college or university in Georgia keeps rising. Enrollment has been growing, too, but that is not the only reason for the University System of Georgia (USG) 's increasing graduation rates.
Enrollment has increased 12.8% since 2011, but the number of degrees awarded has far outpaced that, rising 50.6% over the same period, according to the Board of Regents.
The graduation gains coincide with USG’s decision to join the Complete College America program in 2011.
“Our focus on student success delivers real value — not just for the state, but for every student whose degree opens doors to opportunity and long-term prosperity,” Chancellor Sonny Perdue said in an Oct. 14 statement.
USG cited several initiatives, including the creation of a website (usg.edu/georgia-degrees-pay) that informs families about college costs and value, with data on success rates, borrowing, debt, and average earnings by degree for all 26 of the system’s colleges and universities.
The system also pointed to the Georgia Momentum Approach, which uses predictive analytics and targeted advising for students who are transitioning to college. Remediation and teaching practices were also updated.
The gains have produced all-time highs, with the number of degrees awarded in Fiscal Year 2025 rising 7.9% over the prior year, for a record 82,607 degrees. Early students lagged behind their more advanced peers, with 53,739 of the degrees awarded in FY 2025 going to undergraduates, for an increase of 4.3%, while graduate and professional degree awards increased 15.2% to 28,868 students.
Four-year graduation rates were not evenly distributed last year. Of the freshmen who enrolled in the system in 2020, 35.6% earned a degree within four years, according to a USG graduation report available online. The rate at Georgia Tech was 69.3%, and at the University of Georgia it was 77.4%; however, at Fort Valley State University the rate was 15.9%, and at Georgia Gwinnett College it was 10.2%.