Reaching a 90% six-year graduation rate

Nine out of 10 UGA students graduate within six years. Here’s how UGA guides its students toward completion.

The University of Georgia is one of nine public universities in the U.S. with a 90% or higher six-year graduation rate. And it wasn’t by accident. The university has launched targeted programs to elevate instruction and the student experience, support incoming and first-generation students, and provide opportunities for scholars to earn their diplomas earlier.

“At the University of Georgia, we take a holistic approach to student success, integrating a range of initiatives that have contributed to our record-high graduation rate,” says Marisa Pagnattaro, the university’s vice president for instruction and senior vice provost for academic planning. “We leverage data to identify challenges early and implement targeted strategies that enhance student outcomes and increase their chances of success.”

Photo of a smiling young woman in a graduation cap and gown during a Commencement ceremony.

From Matriculation to Graduation

Acclimating to college, especially at a large university, can be challenging for first-year and transfer students. UGA works to ease that transition.

UGA requires all incoming first-year students to enroll in a First-Year Odyssey seminar. These small classes, taught by tenure-track faculty, help students connect with each other and their instructors.

“Our goal is to build community, and having a small class with familiar faces and an approachable professor helps foster a sense of belonging,” says Pagnattaro.

Incoming freshmen choose from more than 400 one-credit-hour courses taught by tenure-track faculty members from nearly all of UGA’s 90 academic departments. Seminars typically meet for one hour once a week for 15 weeks, a time frame designed to fit easily into first-year students’ schedules. The range of seminar offerings allows students to pursue interests or unlock a new passion.

UGA is launching a similar seminar series for incoming transfer students. The Transfer Launch Seminar will allow undergraduate transfer students to build connections and explore academic topics during their first semester at UGA.

“We leverage data to identify challenges early and implement targeted strategies that enhance student outcomes and increase their chances of success.”
Marisa Pagnattaro, Vice President for Instruction and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning

The Office for Student Success and Achievement supports thousands of students each year through academic well-being, student learning, community building, and leadership development. OSSA offers tutoring, academic coaching, and support for first-generation and rural students. Peer tutoring is free to all UGA students and available as one-on-one appointments and study pods, both in-person and online.

Summer classes help students stay on track to graduate, and UGA’s summer course enrollment rose 6.5% between 2023 and 2024. For 2025, the university is on track to increase enrollment once again. UGA’s Office of Online Learning tracks waitlist data and opens new course sections to meet demands.

In addition to these focused efforts, UGA has invested in experiential learning and active learning initiatives to give students highly impactful learning experiences.