Case Study: Pearl River Community College boosts first-year retention and streamlines advising with Ellucian Degree Works and Banner

How technology and curriculum reform help empower students

Pearl River Community College (PRCC), Mississippi’s oldest two‑year institution, needed to simplify and improve degree planning and advising as part of a guided‑pathways initiative that consolidated programs into eight meta‑majors. To modernize advising and give students clearer routes to transfer, completion, and employment, PRCC turned to Ellucian, deploying Ellucian Degree Works alongside its Ellucian Banner student information system.

Ellucian implemented Degree Works integrated with Banner to centralize student records, provide visual progress tracking, and strengthen advising workflows—helping advisors and students see requirements at a glance and reducing administrative friction. As a result, PRCC saw measurable gains including a 3.8% year‑over‑year increase in first‑year, full‑time retention (from 53% to 55%), greater student independence in course selection, and improved reporting for accreditation and state requirements—outcomes PRCC attributes to Ellucian’s solutions.

Pearl River Community College

Jonathan Dixon

Pearl River Community College