Garrett College led the state’s community colleges for the second time in three years in the percentage of students with a 2.0 or higher grade-point average (GPA) in their first year at their transfer institution.
Just over 97 percent of GC students who took at least 12 credits at Garrett between 2021 and 2023 earned a GPA of at least 2.0 (“C”) at their four-year transfer institution during the 2023-24 academic year. Garrett’s transfer cohort was second in cumulative GPA (3.47), just behind Cecil College’s cumulative 3.49 GPA, according to data released by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
“One of our major goals is to prepare transfer students to be successful at their four-year institutions,” said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president. “This latest MHEC data provides additional evidence that we are achieving that goal.”
Cecil College (96.4 percent), College of Southern Maryland (94.3 percent), Chesapeake College (94.2 percent), and Wor-Wic Community College (91.6 percent) rounded out the top five in percent of students at 2.0 or above at their transfer institutions.
The statewide average for community college transfer students with a 2.0 GPA or better was 88.6 percent.
Chesapeake College (3.29), College of Southern Maryland (3.25), and Wor-Wic Community College (3.19) rounded out the top five in cumulative GPA. The statewide cumulative GPA average was 3.05.
“Garrett has regularly led the state in a variety of student success indicators,” said Professor Christa Bowser, GC’s chief academic officer. “This is really a testament to our faculty, our support services, and our students. Everyone at Garrett College is committed to ensuring our students’ success.”
