Student Performance

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Graduation Rate

The six-year graduation rate (see definition below) represents students who enrolled as first-time, full-time students six years earlier and completed their undergraduate degrees within 150% of the traditional 4-year time frame. Over the last five years, Oglethorpe’s graduation rate has ranged from 47% to 58%. Oglethorpe Peers have ranged from 29% graduation rate to 76% over that same time period. Oglethorpe sets its minimum threshold based on the 25th percentile and the target as being in the 50th percentile of its peers each year. For 2021, Oglethorpe surpassed the minimum standard set and achieved the target.

  • Minimum: 25th Percentile (46% Graduation Rate)
  • Target: 50th Percentile (58% Graduation Rate)
  • Actual: 58% Graduation Rate

For 2021, Oglethorpe surpassed the minimum standard set and achieved the target.

Data are collected on the number of students entering the institution as fulltime, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in a particular year (cohort), and whether they completed within 150 percent of normal time to completion. Typically, this corresponds to a 6-year rate, but some programs may differ.

Retention Rate

The retention rate is an indicator of how well first-year students acclimate to an institution’s academic and social life. Oglethorpe determined that increasing the retention rate was a priority and would be a key component of its SACSCOC Quality Enhancement Plan. Oglethorpe has focused on increasing its retention rate. Because of this effort, Oglethorpe set as its minimum the median retention rate of its peers (72% in 2021) and a target of being in the 80th percentile (78% in 2021).

  • Minimum: Peer Median (72%)
  • Target: 80th Percentile of Peers (78%)
  • Actual: 79% Retention Rate

For 2021, Oglethorpe surpassed the minimum standard set and achieved the target.

Pell Graduation Rate

Given that enrolling an economically diverse student body is a university priority, it is also important that those students are not just provided access, but also see success. Oglethorpe monitors the graduation rate of its Pell students as compared to the non-Pell student body. Given that Oglethorpe’s graduation rate of Pell students reflects about the same difference as its overall graduation rate, Oglethorpe has decided to focus setting minimums and targets based on its own metrics rather than as compared to peers. Currently the graduation rate of Pell students at Oglethorpe is 48%, whereas the graduation rate of all students at Oglethorpe is 58%, reflecting a 10% gap. At its peer institutions, the Pell graduation rate is also 48% and the graduation rate for all students is 58%, reflecting a 10% gap. Thus, Oglethorpe sets as its target the closing of the gap between those two rates. At a minimum, Oglethorpe seeks to have no greater gap than its peers between Pell and overall graduation rate. The target is to close the gap to 5%.

  • Minimum: 10% between Pell and overall graduation rate.
  • Target: 5% gap between Pell and overall graduation rate.
  • Actual: 10% gap between Pell and overall graduation rate.

Oglethorpe has met the minimum but not achieved the target. To address this issue, Oglethorpe will expand Pell students to ensure that they are aware of and promote greater use of Oglethorpe student success programs and activities.