I am delighted to share with you the exciting results of our ongoing efforts to champion student success at Middle Georgia State University. Two years ago, when the Board of Regents approved our State University tuition plan, we showed how the additional resources would be targeted on wraparound support services for students. This commitment to supporting our Knights, which includes adding 19 new positions dedicated to student success and support, is already making a profound impact on our University community.
That plan is producing results! Through our advising efforts, we have achieved a remarkable 7 percent increase in retention, a trend that has remained consistent. This positive trajectory is projected to result in 60 additional students earning a bachelor's degree by year 6, amounting to an additional $60 million in earned income for those graduates over their lifetimes. With 85 percent of our graduates choosing to stay in the region, this translates to a $51 million economic impact on the Middle Georgia region.
Our early monitoring efforts by success coaches are yielding significant results. We have observed a 13 percent rise in success rates among students identified with low grades who engaged with tutoring services from fall 2021 to fall 2023. Additionally, there was a 14 percent increase in persistence rates among students flagged for support between spring-fall 2022 and spring-fall 2023. According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, an impressive 81 percent of students surveyed rated their entire educational experience at MGA in the highest categories, surpassing public institutions in the Southeast to which we were compared. This speaks volumes about the dedication and excellence of our faculty and staff in providing an enriching academic environment for our students.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the Board of Regents for entrusting us with this mission and approving the resources to accomplish it well. I also want to commend our resolute faculty and staff for their tireless efforts in going above and beyond to support our students at every turn. And last but certainly not least, I congratulate our students for their proactive approach in seeking assistance and their steadfast commitment to maximizing their experiences here at Middle Georgia State University. Together, we are putting into practice our MGA value of Stewardship, and in so doing demonstrating so powerfully our MGA value of Learning.
Go Knights!
Chris