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Unprecedented completion rate for transfer student demographic
Florida State University has surpassed its previous milestones in graduation and retention metrics, reaffirming its status as a formidable national leader in student scholastic achievement.
This year, FSU recorded an unprecedented 78% graduation rate within four years, an increase from last year’s 76%, placing it among the Top 10 nationwide for public universities. The six-year graduation rate held steady at 86%.
“The success of our students is at the core of our mission, and these historic graduation and retention figures showcase the results of our commitments,” remarked FSU President Richard McCullough. “With exceptional students, committed faculty and staff, and a nurturing atmosphere, Florida State continuously defines the benchmark for an outstanding undergraduate experience in the country.”
The rates of retention, which indicate how many first-year students continue from their initial fall semester to the second, increased from last year’s 96% to a new high of 97% this year. FSU ranks in the Top 4 nationwide for retention among public universities.
“These statistics exemplify FSU’s steadfast dedication to student achievement,” stated Joe O’Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. “I am immensely proud of our dedicated faculty, staff, and students for their diligence and commitment to academic rigor. They contribute to making FSU a distinctive environment where students develop, flourish, and ultimately graduate prepared for the next stage of their lives and careers.”
The Vice President for Student Academic Success role was recently instituted to promote FSU’s student-centered vision and spearhead efforts to recruit, retain, and graduate an accomplished student body at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
We aim for every student to recognize that we are here to support their greatest aspirations and objectives and to assist in connecting them with the resources and mentors necessary to achieve their utmost potential.
– Vice President for Student Academic Success Joe O’Shea
Initiatives promoting student academic success at FSU feature targeted academic advising, tutoring, workshops, and coaching services; support and guidance for segments facing distinct circumstances, such as individuals who are first-generation students and Pell Grant recipients; high-impact enrichment experiences such as undergraduate research, internships, and study abroad programs; comprehensive programming for high-achieving students in the Honors and Presidential Scholars programs; and support for faculty members as they balance pioneering research with impactful teaching.
“This is a thrilling moment for student achievement at FSU,” O’Shea noted. “We desire for every student to realize that we are available to support their biggest dreams and ambitions, while aiding in linking them with the resources and mentors they require to fulfill their greatest potential. Our students gain from FSU’s distinctive combination of academic excellence and a profound sense of community and mutual care.”
Record graduation rate for transfer students
FSU also established a new benchmark for itself and among all entities within the State University System of Florida for graduation rates of transfer students, with over 80% of these students graduating within three years or fewer after transferring to FSU with an associate in arts (AA) degree from institutions within the Florida College System.
“Students transferring to FSU from other institutions contribute significantly to our university community, offering distinctive perspectives to the student body,” stated Heather Bishop, assistant dean of Undergraduate Studies. “We equip transfer students with success coaching, peer mentoring, and specialized programming to introduce them to university offerings and cultivate a transfer community where they can excel at FSU and graduate in a timely manner.”
Approximately 25% of undergraduate students at FSU have transitioned from other institutions, and FSU assists them via the “Thrive25” initiative managed by Transfer Student Services. In addition to the Transfer Connections and Success course for the first semester students and the ability to be paired with a peer mentor or transfer success coach, transfer students may also join the nationally acknowledged Tau Sigma honor society, partake in specialized engagement activities, become involved in the Transfer Student Union, and serve as peer mentors within the Transfer Leadership Institute.
FSU collaborates closely with its two largest feeder institutions, Tallahassee State College (TSC) and Miami Dade College, to ensure a seamless transition for students. Besides providing academic program pathways, FSU offers enhanced advising and support to facilitate students transferring to FSU after obtaining their AA degree.
FSU has also made recent enhancements to assist students who transition to FSU after earning 12-15 credit hours at Tallahassee State College through the FSU Next Program admissions pathway.
Students admitted to the FSU Next Program spend their fall semester at TSC and transition to FSU in the spring. During their fall semester, they also participate in FSU’s “Gateway to Garnet and Gold” course, which takes place on the FSU campus and familiarizes them with university life.
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