The institution utilizes several measures with respect to student achievement. One measure is the graduation rate. As reported by the Office of Institutional Planning, Research, and Assessment, graduation rates from 2005 to 2007 indicate that on average 57.49% of full-time students graduate within three years compared to over a fourth, 27.13%, of part time students who graduate within the same period. Consistent with its mission to primarily serve transfer students from community colleges, Athens State serves many nontraditional students who carry employment and family obligations. Therefore, it is expected that those students might take over three years to complete their degrees. Data from the 2008-2009 Graduating Senior Exit Survey indicated that 72.4% of respondents were employed in part-time (28.4%) and full-time (44.0%) positions while attending Athens State University.

Passing rates in licensing examinations are another measure of student success. For the last two years, one hundred (100) percent of graduates seeking certification have passed both the Alabama Prospective Teacher Test (APTT) (2007-08, 2008-09), and the Praxis II Content Knowledge Tests. The percent of graduates that obtained certification was 97% in 2007, 94% in 2008, and 95% in 2009.

Employment statistics further demonstrate student achievement. The ASU Graduate Follow-Up Survey indicated that 94.5% of respondents were employed in full-time positions, 65.5% were employed in area of major, and 29.3% were employed outside their major.

Post-Graduate Follow-Up of Political Science majors from the College of Arts and Sciences reported the following pursuits: (1) attending law school, (2) practicing law, (3) attending graduate school, (4) employment in the public sector, or (5) employment at a non-profit organization.

Other measures of student achievement include alumni and employers surveys. Results from the College of Business Employer and Alumni Survey indicated that 85% of employers were either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the overall performance and capabilities of the business graduates. Results from the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Teacher Preparation Program Performance Profiles report indicated that 88% and 92% of school administrators/employers, respectively, were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with graduates from the College of Education.

The College of Education Graduate Follow-Up Survey conducted in the fall of 2007 and the spring of 2008 indicated that one hundred (100) percent and 88.9%, of the graduates, respectively, reported ratings of “high” or “somewhat high” when assessing the quality of their entire teacher education program. Further data support these findings. Results from the New Teacher Satisfaction Survey from the Teacher Preparation Program Performance Profile for 2007-2008 indicated that one hundred percent (100) of new teachers were “highly satisfied” or “satisfied” with their overall preparation, up from 98% the previous year. Results from the College of Business Alumni Survey indicated that 99% of respondents rated their satisfaction with the degree program as “very satisfied” or “satisfied”.