Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College enrolls more than 12 percent of the total number of community college students in the state and its two-year completion rates are almost three percent higher than the state average. Mississippi ranks fifth in the nation for two-year completion rates.

Results of a six-year study conducted by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center showed that Mississippi had an average associate degree completion rate for full-time students of almost 69 percent from 2008 to 2013. The report showed students at Mississippi’s community colleges completing their associate degree at a higher rate compared to the nation in several categories.

The total completion rate for the six-year cohort at Mississippi community colleges was 46.01 percent which put the state ranking at fifth nationally, while the total completion for the U.S. was almost ten percent lower at 39.13 percent. Additionally, the study showed that students who enroll full-time graduate at higher level. In Mississippi, 68.61 percent of full-time students graduated, which ranked the state at fourth nationally. The total completion rate for full-time students in the U.S. was 57 percent.

MGCCC’s ranking was higher than the state average on almost all indicators on the report, and the state average was very good when compared to other community colleges nationally. Student retention at MGCCC was almost 59 percent, compared to 56 percent statewide. And, at the end of year two, MGCCC students had completed 83.6 percent of their attempted hours as opposed to 75.2 percent success for students statewide.

“This report is indicative of the great progress MGCCC and the state of Mississippi are making. The stronger our completion rates are across Mississippi, the stronger the economy is,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, president of MGCCC. “And, of course, it is outstanding that MGCCC continues to stay in the forefront on the state and national levels. That progress enables the residents of our four-county district to have excellent educational opportunities close to home.”

The report, unique because it provides a more accurate completion rate by tracking students who transfer to another school and graduate, also showed that total completion rates for Mississippi community colleges exceeded the overall U.S. rate among students age 20 or younger; students age 21-24; students over age 24; women; and men.

“All Mississippi community colleges have made a strong commitment to help our students complete their degrees,” said Dr. Eric Clark, Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board. “The recent report issued by the National Clearinghouse shows that students who start their higher education at one of our state’s community colleges do better than the national average when it comes to finishing their degrees. This has been done through great cooperation between our community colleges and our public universities. When a student earns an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree, that person benefits and all of Mississippi benefits as well.”

The full report can be found at http://nscresearchcenter.org/signaturereport8-statesupplement/.