A joint analysis by the National Institute for Student Success at Georgia State and the Burning Glass Institute tracked more than 40,000 alumni and found that Georgia State’s student-success interventions—proactive advising, microgrants, learning communities and early-credit summer programs—correlated with higher degree completion and stronger labor-market outcomes. Alumni who received supports earned roughly $5,000–$6,000 more on average; Pell recipients saw $8,000–$9,000 gains, narrowing longstanding earning gaps. The study matched institutional records to national employment data and highlights how targeted retention programs can yield measurable returns in earnings and mobility, a finding other campuses may try to replicate amid debates over affordability and ROI.