As Georgia Tech creates new pathways for talented students to join its academic community, the Institute continues to prioritize the resources and experiences that contribute to their success.
Nearly 98% of students who entered Georgia Tech as part of the Fall 2025 first-year cohort returned for their second year, giving Tech the highest retention rate among public universities. Graduation rates complement that high level of retention, with 76% of students in the Fall 2022 first-year cohort completing their degrees within four years — a 10-percentage-point increase since Fall 2019 — and 93% of the Fall 2020 first-year cohort graduating in six years.
These results align with Georgia Tech’s first Big Bet of becoming a national leader in outcomes and value for all students. They also advance the Institute’s Expand Access strategic focus area by pairing broader opportunity with strategic investments in the people, programs, and support that help students persist, progress, and graduate.
Creating New Pathways to Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech’s commitment to student success includes expanding pathways to the Institute, providing meaningful opportunities and support throughout the undergraduate experience, and preparing students for success beyond graduation.
One example of Tech’s efforts to expand access is the Atlanta Bridge Program. Launched in 2025 in partnership with Atlanta Metropolitan State College (AMSC), prospective transfer students receive coordinated academic advising, mentoring, and engagement opportunities from both institutions, along with early access to Georgia Tech resources. The inaugural cohort included 19 students from 11 metro Atlanta high schools, and in Spring 2026, all 11 AMSC students who applied to transfer to Tech were admitted for Fall 2026 enrollment. Since then, the program has grown to 36 students in its second cohort.
Expanding access also means addressing the financial barriers that can affect a student’s ability to succeed. Through Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech, increased philanthropic support is helping the Institute meet a higher percentage of student financial need.
“We are committed to expanding access by creating strategic pathways and partnerships and making a Tech education and experience affordable for top talent,” said Rick Clark, vice provost for Enrollment Management. “Our alumni continue to invest generously in the Transforming Tomorrow capital campaign, and our Development team has raised over $415 million to provide more scholarships for undergraduates. That support reduces financial barriers for students, allowing them to focus more fully on their education, engage in meaningful campus experiences, and persist toward graduation.”
Strong Outcomes Across the Student Experience
Expanding pathways to Georgia Tech goes hand in hand with strengthening the systems, processes, and support structures that help students thrive. Through investments in proactive advising, student success technologies, and data-informed approaches to identifying students who may be off course, the Institute aims to connect students with the guidance and resources they need to stay on track and achieve their goals. These efforts complement opportunities to engage in high-impact practices, including undergraduate research, co-ops and internships, study abroad, and other forms of experiential learning that enrich the undergraduate experience and prepare students for long-term career success.
“Broadening access to a Georgia Tech education means more than creating opportunities to enroll; it means building an environment where students are supported in reaching their full potential,” said Steven Girardot, vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success. “We want every student to engage fully in the academic and experiential opportunities Georgia Tech offers, achieve their goals, and graduate prepared to make a meaningful impact in their chosen fields and communities.”
National rankings further reflect the value of those experiences. Georgia Tech earned the No. 4 spot for co-ops and internships in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2027 rankings. The Institute also remained No. 1 among public institutions on the Princeton Review’s 2026 list of Top 50 Best Value Colleges among public institutions for the fourth consecutive year, with a return-on-investment score of 95 out of 99 and a No. 1 ranking for career placement among public schools for the second year in a row. Additionally, Tech received an A+ overall grade from Niche.com, including A+ grades for academics, professors, and student life.
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