Burning Glass Report on Workforce Outcomes
A new report funded by the Strada Education Foundation and the result of a collaboration between NISS researchers and the Burning Glass Institute links more than 40,000 student records from Georgia State University with the Burning Glass Institute’s career data.
The findings are impactful. Students who received more than a year of proactive advising showed markedly stronger patterns of workforce alignment. One year after graduation, these students were nearly twice as likely to be working in roles connected to their major compared to peers with limited advising exposure. Alignment strengthened even further when supports were layered. Students who combined advising with completion grants and meta‑major-based Freshman Learning Communities demonstrated the most consistent gains, with Pell recipients showing especially notable improvements in securing degree‑relevant roles.
Are We The Problem?
3.6
million students who enrolled in college in 2018 who will not graduate.
36%
of students wished they had chosen a different major.
$32k
drop in annual earnings for individuals who do not complete a college degree.
18
national percentage point gap between Pell and non-Pell students who graduate in six years.
20%
share of admitted students who never enroll in college due to administrative barriers.
25%
average failure rates in first-year math courses.
47
point drop in graduation rates for students who have to stop out of college for financial reasons.
30%
drop in likelihood that a student will graduate if they still have not found a major/career after two years of college.
5.1
years it takes the average student to complete a 4-year degree.
Evidence-based, data-driven strategies for Student Success
The NISS provides partner institutions with in-depth diagnostic analyses, implementation support, and learning pathways that enable significant improvements in retention and college completion rates.
Evidence-based Programs
Practical know-how developed by subject matter experts who have successfully implemented such programs on their own campuses.
Student Success Gap Reduction
Innovative and proven approaches for large-scale, positive transformation for students from all backgrounds.
Data Driven Student Support
Better outcomes in the enrollment, retention, and graduation of students from all backgrounds through the implementation of data-informed practices
Predictive Analytics
Holistic data analysis that identifies and addresses institutionally-created completion barriers.
Success by the Numbers
Georgia State is nationally known for pioneering student success programs that have improved college completion rates for all students.
“The lessons learned by Georgia State are transferable. The NISS disseminates evidence-based best practices to other colleges and universities and provides a suite of services to support their successful implementation.”
Dr. Tim Renick, NISS Executive Director
How does the NISS help institutions improve student success outcomes?
First-Time Freshman Retention Rates
Average Percentage Point Increase Between Fall 2021 and Fall 2024 Retention Rates
The NISS’s first group of partner institutions—seven public universities in the University System of Georgia, including three HBCUs—launched the 5-month Diagnostic and Playbook process in 2021 and have had more than two years to implement their Playbook recommendations, most with formal coaching support from the NISS.
All seven institutions saw significant gains in retention rates over the last three years, with improvements ranging from 3.1 to 17.7 percentage points. The average three-year gain of 10.2 points realized by NISS partners was almost five times higher than the 2.1-point gain seen by public universities nationally.
First-time Freshman Retention Trends and Key Highlights
The NISS now has three years of outcome data for its initial cohort of partner institutions in Georgia. The first-time freshman retention gains realized by these partners have averaged 2.5 times the change for institutions in the USG that were not NISS partners. Retention rates have improved across the cohort each year. While partner retention rates began below their peers at 64.6%, rates surged by 10.2 percentage points to 74.8% in just three years.
Source: 2019-2020, IPEDS; 2021-2024, USG by the Numbers Retention Rate Reports
The NISS Diagnostic and Playbook and service model is instrumental in moving the needle on student success.
The Diagnostic and Playbook process is a 5-month analysis that precedes the formal launch of implementation work. It engages dozens of campus stakeholders, ranging from faculty and student-success staff to the institution’s president and cabinet. NISS partners report that positive changes to their institution’s student-support systems begin during this initial diagnostic phase.
To learn more about our services, please visit our Diagnostic and Playbook services page.
“NISS provided a holistic and data informed assessment of my institution’s current student success strategies. It was a thorough campus-wide effort which supported meaningful dialogue and follow-up….and served as a reminder to everyone involved of the greater good and importance of our collective work.”
Dr. Raymond Clarke
Vice President of Student Affairs Savannah State University
Accomplishments by Georgia Southern University
- – New Proactive Academic Interventions increased student engagement levels from 27% to 99%
- – Redesign of First-Year Experience Course allows students to develop and apply information literacy skills and to engage with their degree program focusing on career growth, campus resources, and the university community
- – Eagle Engage Program: Connects students intentionally to right-fit co-curricular programs, provides easy links to student/advisor resources, and allows programs to easily invite targeted students to specific events
“We intend to increase retention levels above pre-pandemic record rates by implementing NISS recommended retention initiatives such as adopting predictive analytics, introducing the Keep HOPE Alive program, and developing infrastructure to support coordinated, comprehensive student care. Georgia Southern’s retention goal for 2026, with the guidance and support of the NISS, is 81%!”
Kyle Marrero
President
Accomplishments by Fort Valley State University
- – Redesigned Enrollment 101: Equips students with the tools to navigate enrollment.
- – Targeted SAP Proactive Coaching: Targeted, data-informed support to help students at risk of losing eligibility for Federal Financial Aid hold on to their Pell Grants and Federal loans.
- – Advising Redesign: Is helping more students schedule advising appointments and register on time; Group Advising sessions at the Jones Student Center and library have shown a positive impact in retention.
- – Coordinated Communication Channels: Redesigning the use of email and text messages has played a pivotal role in fostering a more connected and informed student body.
- – 5.9% One-year increase in overall Fall enrollment
“The implementation of a comprehensive set of strategies has significantly contributed to the improvement of student retention and success within our academic community….By ensuring timely and relevant information reaches students, we have empowered them to make informed decisions about their academic journey, scheduling advising appointments, registering of classes in a timely manner, reducing uncertainty and enhancing their overall experience.”
President Paul Jones and Dr. Timothy Hatchett
Accomplishments by Kennesaw State University
- – Restructured ADVISING: Centralized management and reporting; Developed advisor dashboards to track engagement and initiatives; Adopted new advising technology
- – METRICS Dashboard: Resulted in 4% growth in student credit hour intensity
- – Early Alerts: 40% of faculty submitted mid-term grades for at least one course, totaling 38% of courses offered (2023)
- – uHoo Analytics: D2L-based faculty alert system being developed to facilitate student-success interventions during a semester
- – FLIGHT Program: First-year student engagement and identity program created under student affairs
- – BLOCK Scheduling: Redesign first-year experience; students select 2 blocks (15-16 credit hours) simplifying registration and ensuring a strong academic start
“Our partnership with the NISS has been a catalyst for change….[There are] six major student success initiatives in progress at KSU that are outcomes of our work with NISS.”
Ivan Pulinkala
Provost
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