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Annual Report & Strategic Plan
SOARING BEYOND
because of you!
Explore Georgia Southern’s progress in fiscal year 2026 and the people, purpose and action shaping our future through Soaring Beyond 2030.
2030
Strategic Horizon
01 — People. Purpose. Action.
The Year in Motion
One Story, Many Measures of Progress
Fiscal year 2026 marked the first year of Soaring Beyond 2030 and a new chapter for Georgia Southern, with the East Georgia Campus joining our University community.
“Eagle Nation is stronger—and larger—than ever before. Our research enterprise is growing. Our employees are more engaged. And across Georgia, our impact continues to strengthen communities and create opportunities throughout the state. At Georgia Southern, progress begins with people, driven by purpose, and is realized by action.”
– Kyle Marrero, President
2025–2026 Annual Highlights
A Year of Progress & a Future of Possibility
From student success and research to economic impact and innovation, Georgia Southern continues to move forward with purpose.
31,599
Students Enrolled
81.6%
First-Year Retention
5,779
Degrees Conferred
$1.24B
Economic Impact
Our People
4.01 / 5
Employee Engagement Score
#33 Nationally
#2 in Higher EducationForbes America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2026
Our Purpose
Ready Day 1
89%
Alumni employed, enlisted or enrolled within six months of graduation.
$53,562
Median earnings one year after graduation.
Research & Discovery
$57.8M
Research expenditures and awards.
84
Research doctorates conferred.
Philanthropic Support
$27.4M
Annual gifts and pledges.
605
Engagement visits with Alumni, donor and fan visits by Athletics.
Our Action
4,568
Processing hours saved each month through automation.
$2M
Reduction in maintenance expenses through intelligent technology.
The Plan / Soaring Beyond 2030
A Plan Built to Be
Measured
Ten goals connect each year’s results to Georgia Southern’s long-term vision: People. Purpose Action. Growing ourselves to grow others.
Our People
Build a culture of high performance, support well-being and engagement, and create opportunities for professional and leadership development.
Our Purpose
Advance student success, research, teaching and service to strengthen communities and support regional prosperity.
Our Action
Align programs with market needs, expand public impact and philanthropic engagement, and strengthen university operations.
Progress / Strategic Results
The People & Work Behind the Progress
Every result connects to a larger goal. Explore how Georgia Southern is strengthening its culture, preparing students for success and improving the way we work.
Our Mission
Impacting the Future Through a
Transformative,
Learner-Centered Culture
Georgia Southern University impacts the future by fostering a transformative learner-centered culture. We empower students, faculty, staff and alumni to lead, serve and engage, enhancing the quality of life through educational excellence, impactful research, cultural enrichment and meaningful contributions to communities locally and globally.
Georgia Southern empowers students, faculty, staff and alumni to lead, serve and engage—enhancing quality of life through education, research, cultural enrichment and meaningful contributions to communities.
Our Values
Innovation & Discovery
Mobility
People
Academic Excellence
Collaboration
Transparency & Integrity
Sustainability
Achievements
Progress You Can See
Meet the people and explore the ideas moving Georgia Southern forward.
People
Georgia Southern recognized for exceptional community engagement in latest Carnegie elective classifications
Georgia Southern earned the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, recognizing its commitment to meaningful community partnerships, civic engagement and real-world learning experiences.
Purpose
Georgia Southern University joins the Georgia Research Alliance
Georgia Southern joined the Georgia Research Alliance in May 2026, expanding opportunities for research collaboration and strengthening its role in Georgia’s innovation economy.
Action
Georgia Southern University receives state funding for Georgia’s first college of optometry, literacy center
State investments support Georgia’s first College of Optometry through amended FY26 funding and a new Georgia Southern University Literacy Center through FY27 funding, connecting university expertise with pressing community needs.
People. Purpose. Action.
Every Year
Moves the VisionForward
Our progress reflects the people who make Georgia Southern what it is. Explore the full Annual Report for more stories and the complete record of our first year under Soaring Beyond 2030.