Admit rate has ranged 62%–100% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Georgia State University is a sprawling, urban powerhouse in downtown Atlanta, known for its staggering academic diversity (nearly 300 degree programs) and a student body that reflects the city's kinetic energy. With a 55% acceptance rate, it’s accessible yet rigorous, particularly in business, geosciences, and education. The campus thrives on its location—students dive into Atlanta’s internships and cultural scene—while graduation rates and post-grad salaries climb steadily.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
26,623
In-state tuition
$8,664
Out-of-state tuition
$24,840
Acceptance Rate
55%
Degree Programs
~300
On-Campus Housing
18% of students
Student Organizations
400+
Six-Year Graduation Rate
54–55%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$47,384
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.0×
Median debt at graduation
$20,903
Graduation rate
53%
First-year retention
80%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
44%
Pell (lower-income) share
73%
First-generation share
32%
Endowment / student
$9,762
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$69,338
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$63,143
Computer and Information Sciences, General$58,260
Insurance$56,693
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$54,331
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
11
Per 1,000 students
0.41
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
101
Summer high
86°F
Winter low
39°F
Annual rain
65.3"
Annual snow
0.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
518
Scholarly works
64,480
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.1%
Bottom → top quintile
22%
From bottom quintile
9%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Georgia State University?
Georgia State University's acceptance rate is approximately 55% (Atlanta, GA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Georgia State University?
Admitted students at Georgia State University typically score 940–1180 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Georgia State University cost?
At Georgia State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,931 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Georgia State University?
Georgia State University enrolls approximately 26,623 undergraduate students.
Where is Georgia State University located?
Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, GA.
Admissions
Georgia State’s admissions process is selective but not exclusionary, with a 55% acceptance rate (per multiple sources). Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. since at least 2024, the university sets clear benchmarks: a minimum 2.75 high school GPA for curriculum requirements, with SAT scores of 480 EBRW/440 Math or ACT scores of 17 English/Reading and 17 Math as alternatives. Mid-50% test scores for admitted students range from 940–1180 SAT or 19–26 ACT, though nearly half of enrollees submit neither. The vibe here is pragmatic—GSU prioritizes accessibility while nudging students toward its robust support systems.
With nearly 300 degree programs, GSU’s academic catalog is a buffet of options, from niche strengths like (praised for hands-on fieldwork) to powerhouse departments in , education, and STEM. The curriculum emphasizes practical learning: , and two-thirds offer first-year experiences or learning communities. Unlike schools with a single signature program, GSU’s identity lies in its breadth—students can pivot between disciplines without transferring, aided by a sprawling urban campus that doubles as a lab for internships and research.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$53,775
Finance and Financial Management Services$50,137
Business/Managerial Economics$48,041
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
geosciences
business (economics, accounting, finance)
89% of programs incorporate writing-intensive courses
Life at GSU is inescapably urban—82% of students live off-campus, weaving between classes and Atlanta’s internships, concerts, and startups. The university leans into its location with orientation traditions that acclimate students to the city, while 400+ student organizations (from cultural clubs to professional networks) foster community. Notably, involved students boast higher GPAs and graduation rates. Sports are present but not dominant; the real action is in the city itself, where MARTA access makes everything from Braves games to the Beltline a quick ride away.
GSU’s six-year graduation rate hovers at 54–55% (up from 45.7% a decade ago), with women graduating at higher rates (56.5%) than men. Alumni earnings start modestly—$36,200 at six years post-enrollment, climbing to $46,200 after a decade—but master’s graduates report averages of $106,700, spiking to $122,700 in fields like business or tech. The university has aggressively tackled the “completion gap,” awarding a record 5,652 bachelor’s degrees in 2024–25 through initiatives like predictive analytics for at-risk students.
The average net price is $16,390 after aid, with packages averaging $8,636 in grants/scholarships. Tuition varies by program, but GSU’s calculators emphasize transparency—costs are broken down by fees, housing (only 18% live on-campus), and even MARTA transit passes. Financial aid leans heavily on need-based support and external scholarships, with a streamlined portal to filter opportunities. For a downtown Atlanta education, it’s a relative bargain, especially for in-state students who tap Georgia’s HOPE scholarship.
Georgia State is Atlanta’s university—a place where diversity (racial, economic, and academic) isn’t just a buzzword but the fabric of daily life. Its superpower is scaling student success: predictive analytics, micro-grants, and relentless advising have lifted graduation rates 10 points in a decade. Unlike cloistered campuses, GSU embraces the city as a classroom, whether through film majors interning at Tyler Perry Studios or poli-sci students lobbying at the Capitol. For students who want a no-nonsense education with urban adrenaline, it’s a standout.
Georgia State University logo · sourceCreating A True College Town Downtown · sourceCollege of Arts & Sciences - Georgia State University · sourceGeorgia State Plan Will Transform Atlanta Campus - Georgia State University News - University Advancement - Academic Unit News · source
