Since 1983, Savannah State University has graduated its college prepared, full-time, first-time freshman students at a rate equal to or greater than the average for the Georgia state university system (excluding 2 year and research institutions).

For as long as data has been maintained, Savannah State University has graduated its developmental level full-time, first-time freshman students at a rate greater than the average for the Georgia state university system (excluding 2 year and research institutions).

But, since Savannah State University has traditionally enrolled a much larger ratio of under-prepared full-time, first-time freshmen than has been the case in most of the Georgia state university system, and since these under-prepared students often withdraw in greater numbers or require longer to complete their programs as a result of extensive necessary remedial work, Savannah State University's aggregate graduation rate often falls below the average for the Georgia state university system.