Transfer-first CC
in the Atlanta metro
You're deciding whether to start at Georgia State University-Perimeter College before finishing a bachelor's degree elsewhere in Georgia. That decision turns on transfer rates, post-graduation earnings, and what the degree actually costs you.
17,437 undergrads, 64% transfer out by year 8, median $47k 10-yr earnings, $20,903 median debt.
An Atlanta CC built almost entirely around the transfer track
Georgia State University-Perimeter College enrolls 17,437 undergraduates in Atlanta, with 64% attending part-time. Its eight-year transfer-out rate of 64% is among the highest you will see at any community college — this institution functions primarily as a transfer pipeline. Liberal Arts and Sciences accounts for the vast majority of completions at 1,835, with Registered Nursing adding 79. Median earnings sit at $47k ten years out, and median debt is $20,903. In-state tuition is $2,280 annually. The 0% three-year loan default rate is a clean signal. Students who arrive with transfer intent have strong institutional momentum behind them.
Georgia State University-Perimeter College sits in Atlanta and enrolls 17,437 undergraduates — a large urban CC where 64% of students attend part-time. That part-time majority is worth noting upfront: completion timelines here are longer, and the eight-year window used to measure transfer outcomes captures more of the realistic student path. Liberal Arts and Sciences is the dominant program by far, with 1,835 completions, placing it in the transfer-prep lane rather than a career-technical track. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 64% — an exceptionally high figure that marks this college as a functioning transfer machine, not a terminal institution. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $47,384, median debt is $20,903, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $2,280, though net price climbs to $11,453 once room, board, and living costs factor in. For an Atlanta-area student with a clear four-year goal, the transfer signal here is hard to ignore.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 1,835 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 79 |
| Dental Hygiene/Hygienist. | 29 |
| Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist. | 14 |
| Insurance. | 5 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Georgia transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Georgia State University-Perimeter College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data makes a strong case for it. Sixty-four percent of students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — an unusually high rate that reflects the college's core function as a transfer pipeline. Liberal Arts and Sciences alone produced 1,835 completions, giving transfer-bound students a well-worn path. In-state tuition is $2,280 per year and the three-year loan default rate is 0%, suggesting borrowers manage their debt. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $47,384 and median debt is $20,903. The main caution is net price: at $11,453, costs are higher than at some peer CCs, so factoring in financial aid before enrolling is worth the effort.
- How does Georgia State University-Perimeter College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- Perimeter College's eight-year transfer-out rate is 64%, which is well above the national community college average — research typically places that average between 15% and 25%. Even accounting for the 64% part-time enrollment, which extends timelines and can suppress transfer rates, this figure stands out. Only 1.2% of students remained enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 21% had completed a credential at the college itself. Taken together, the data shows a clear pattern: students who start here are primarily using the institution as a bridge, and most reach the transfer step within the measurement window.
- What programs does Georgia State University-Perimeter College offer at meaningful scale?
- Liberal Arts and Sciences dominates at 1,835 completions — by a wide margin. That concentration signals that the college's primary function is broad academic preparation for transfer, not career-technical certification. Registered Nursing is the next largest at 79 completions, followed by Dental Hygiene at 29 and Medical Radiologic Technology at 14. The health programs operate at modest volume compared to the liberal arts track. For students planning a four-year transfer, the Liberal Arts throughput is genuinely large and well-developed. For students specifically targeting an associate's-level health credential, the programs are present but smaller.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.