Gordon State College Reflects Statewide Growth in Degree Completion
By Karolina Philmon, GSC marketing manager
As the University System of Georgia (USG) celebrates a record 86,660 degrees awarded during fiscal year 2026, Gordon State College is reflecting that statewide momentum through growing degree completion, one of the most affordable pathways to higher education in the state and academic programs designed to meet Georgia’s workforce needs.
USG announced today that the number of degrees conferred across its 25 public colleges and universities increased 4.9% over the previous fiscal year. At GSC, recent commencement numbers also point to growing momentum in student completion.
During Spring 2026 Commencement, GSC awarded 338 degrees to 328 graduates, marking one of the largest graduating classes in the College’s history. The number of degrees awarded represented a 15% increase over Spring 2025.
“Every degree earned at Gordon State represents a student prepared to move forward,” said Dr. Russell Crutchfield, GSC president. “By providing affordable pathways, responding to Georgia’s workforce needs and supporting students through graduation, we’re preparing graduates to strengthen their professions and communities.”
Affordability remains central to that mission. Students can earn a four-year degree at GSC for under $20,000 in total tuition, providing an accessible pathway to a bachelor’s degree and the long-term economic opportunities associated with a college education.
GSC is also strengthening the connection between degree attainment and Georgia’s workforce through programs and partnerships in high-demand fields.
Recently, GSC reached a significant milestone in educator preparation, becoming the No. 1 institution in Georgia for registered teaching apprentices through the Georgia Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (GaRTAP). This achievement builds on continued growth in GSC’s education program, which produced 204 graduates over the past three years. Those graduates are helping meet educator needs in communities across more than 40 Georgia counties.
That workforce focus also extends to health care. GSC continues to expand pathways into nursing and other health professions while developing partnerships that connect students with employers and career opportunities. Most recently, GSC partnered with Upson Regional Medical Center to provide financial assistance to nursing students while creating a direct connection to employment at URMC following graduation and licensure.
Beyond the classroom, GSC students are gaining opportunities to apply their education through undergraduate research, entrepreneurship and other career-focused experiences. During the 2025-26 academic year, GSC students earned statewide recognition through USG competitions, including a third-place finish in the system’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.
These efforts support a broader focus across USG on helping more Georgians access higher education, complete a credential and enter the workforce prepared to contribute to the state’s economy.
Since USG joined the Complete College America initiative in 2011, the number of degrees awarded across the system has increased 58%, significantly outpacing enrollment growth during the same period. USG also reported continued growth in career-focused credentials, including a 21.5% year-over-year increase in one-year undergraduate certificates.
“Higher education and economic development form a powerful flywheel: as more Georgians earn degrees, individual families build financial security and our state’s economy gains momentum,” said Sonny Perdue, USG chancellor, in announcing the systemwide record.
For GSC, that statewide momentum reinforces the College’s continued focus on providing accessible pathways to degrees, careers and opportunities that move students and Georgia forward.