Student Achievement

The University identifies, evaluates, and publishes goals and outcomes for student achievement that align with its mission, reflect the characteristics of the students it serves, and are appropriate to the academic programs it offers.

Student achievement goals are established and measured in the following areas:

1. Six-Year Undergraduate Completion Rates
2. Gateway Course Performance
3. Retention Rates
4. Two-Year Graduate rates

Six-Year Undergraduate Completion Rates

• JCSU Threshold of Acceptability (minimum target): 45% for six-year completion rate  
• JCSU Goal (expected target): 55% for six-year completion rate  

Figure 8.1-1 Six-Year Undergraduate Completion Rate: National Comparisons

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Johnson C. Smith University reports six-year completion rates using data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). NSC tracks students who began at JCSU and completed a bachelor’s degree at JCSU or another four-year institution within six years, regardless of enrollment status.

Results for the entering Fall Cohorts 2015–2017 are shown above. During this period, JCSU’s six-year completion rates ranged from 42.9% to 49.5%, compared to national comparison rates of 75.6% to 76.3%. The University met its minimum threshold of acceptability (45%) for the Fall 2015 and Fall 2016 cohorts. The Fall 2017 cohort fell below the minimum threshold by approximately 2.1 percentage points.

Note that data for the two most recent six-year completion cohorts (Fall 2018 and Fall 2019) are not yet available.

Figure 8.1-2. Six-Year Undergraduate Completion Rates by Gender 

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When disaggregated by gender, six-year completion outcomes for Fall Cohorts 2015–2017 show variation between female and male students. During this period, female students’ completion rates ranged from 47.1% to 54.1%, while male students’ completion rates ranged from 35.9% to 43.7%. Female students met the minimum threshold of acceptability (45%) in each cohort shown. Male students did not meet the minimum threshold of acceptability in any of the cohorts shown.

Gateway Course Performance

• Threshold of Acceptability (minimum target): Average 1.7 GPA each academic year   
• Goal (expected target): Average 2.0 GPA each academic year

Table 8.1-3. Gateway Course Performance by Academic Year
 

Johnson C. Smith University evaluates undergraduate performance in three gateway general education courses: ENG 131 (Composition), MTH 131 (Algebra), and COM 130 (Public Speaking and Communication).

The data shown above are disaggregated by admission type. Regular admits meet or exceed the University’s standard minimum high school GPA requirement of 2.5, while Biddle Institute admits enter the University with a high school GPA below the standard minimum requirement.

Across Academic Years 2022–2023 through 2024–2025, Regular admits recorded average GPAs above or near the minimum threshold of acceptability (1.7) in all three gateway courses and met or exceeded the expected target (2.0) in ENG 131 and COM 130 in all years. Biddle Institute admits met the minimum threshold in ENG 131 and COM 130 in all years and met the expected target in ENG 131 in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, and in COM 130 in 2023–2024. MTH 131 remained a challenge for Biddle admits, as they did not meet the minimum threshold or expected target in any year.

Retention Rates

Undergraduate Retention

• Threshold of Acceptability (minimum target): 58% fall-to-fall retention
• Goal (expected target): 68% fall-to-fall retention  

Figure 8.1-4. Full-Time, First-Time Degree-Seeking Undergraduate Retention Rates
 

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Johnson C. Smith University tracks retention rates for full-time, first-time degree-seeking undergraduate students, measured as the percentage of students who return the following fall semester. Every reporting year tracks the previous Fall Cohort retention.

The data shown above are compared to peer institution averages when available and are evaluated against the University’s minimum threshold of acceptability (58%) and expected target (68%).

Across the last four reporting years, the University met or exceeded the minimum threshold of acceptability (58%) in the three most recent years. The expected target (68%) was met in 2024–2025, when the University also exceeded the peer comparison average of 66%. In the other years, outcomes fell below the expected target. IPEDS Peer comparison data are available for Reporting Years 2022-2023 through 2024–2025.

Graduate Retention (MSW Two-Year)

• Threshold of Acceptability (minimum target): 80% fall-to-fall
• Goal (expected target): 87% fall-to-fall

Figure 8.1-5. MSW Retention Rate - Two Year

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Retention in the two-year Master of Social Work (MSW) program is measured as the percentage of students who enroll in the second year after completing their first year.

The data above are evaluated against the University’s minimum threshold of acceptability (80%) and expected target (87%).

Across Academic Years 2022–2023 through 2024–2025, the two-year MSW program consistently met the minimum threshold of 80%. The expected target of 87% was met by the 2024–2025 cohort, when the program achieved a 100% retention rate. Outcomes in 2023–2024 and 2022–2023 fell just below the expected target, with retention rates of 86% and 80%, respectively.

Two-Year Graduate Rates

• Threshold of Acceptability (minimum target): 60% graduation rate
• Goal (expected target): 80% graduation rate

Figure 8.1-6. MSW Graduation Rates by Admit Type

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Johnson C. Smith University tracks graduation rates for both the two-year and advanced standing Master of Social Work (MSW) programs. Graduation rates are evaluated against the University’s minimum threshold of acceptability (60%) and expected target (80%).

Across Academic Years 2021–2022 through 2024–2025, the advanced standing program consistently met or exceeded the expected target, with graduation rates ranging from 80% to 100%. The two-year program also met or exceeded the minimum threshold in all years; outcomes met or exceeded the expected target in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, while the 2021–2022 cohort fell just below the expected target at 76%. The graduation rate for the 2024–2025 two-year cohort will be available in June 2026.

 Last revised: January 2026