Admit rate has ranged 62%–100% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (55%) falls outside that window. 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 public research powerhouse in the heart of downtown Atlanta, defined by its staggering diversity and a pragmatic, data-driven mission to propel students into the workforce. It’s less a traditional campus and more an integrated part of the city, offering nearly 300 degree programs and a student body where first-generation college students and commuters are the norm, not the exception. The university has gained national recognition for using predictive analytics to identify and support at-risk students, systematically closing achievement gaps and driving up graduation rates that were once among the lowest in the state.
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
Graduation Rate
53%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$47,384
Students Receiving Aid
94%
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
51%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
32%
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
Applicants here also applied to
The schools that most often appear alongside Georgia State University on applicants’ lists, from our self-reported outcomes corpus.
Co-application frequency from self-reported results — directional peer discovery, not a recommendation.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
11
Per 1,000 students
0.32
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 operates with a moderately selective, formula-driven admissions process that prioritizes academic preparedness within a broad applicant pool. With an of 55%, it is accessible to a wide range of students while maintaining baseline academic standards. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted freshmen is 940–1180, with an average high school core GPA between 3.2 and 3.7. The university has clear minimum test score requirements for admission: a 480 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and a 440 in Math on the SAT, or a 17 in English or Reading on the ACT. While the provided sources reference s, the specific GSU CDS pages do not detail the relative importance of factors like demonstrated interest, leaving the precise weighting of application components somewhat opaque. The process appears designed to efficiently evaluate a high volume of applications from across Georgia and beyond.
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.
GSU’s academic profile is defined by breadth, accessibility, and a strong focus on practical, career-oriented education. The university offers one of the widest academic selections in Georgia, with nearly 300 degree programs and pathways at the undergraduate level alone. This vast catalog spans traditional liberal arts, business, and sciences to more specialized urban-focused fields. The curriculum emphasizes high-impact practices designed to support student success: 89% of programs incorporate writing in the disciplines, 66% offer first-year experiences, and 66% utilize learning communities. This structured approach to undergraduate education reflects the institution's commitment to guiding its large, diverse student body toward timely graduation. The academic experience is deeply intertwined with its Atlanta location, providing built-in opportunities for internships, research, and professional networking in a major metropolitan hub.
Life at Georgia State is an exercise in urban self-reliance. Without a classic, insular quad-centric campus, student life is actively curated by departments like Student Engagement, which coordinates social, cultural, and educational events to build community. The Programs Board specifically focuses on creating fun events to enrich student life on the Atlanta campus. The university’s most defining characteristic is its profound diversity; it boasts an incredibly diverse student body with a rich mix of ethnicities and cultures represented. This is formally supported by the Cultures, Communities & Inclusion (CCI) office, which runs programs reflecting the diverse identities and experiences of students and their communities, helping them align personal purpose with academic and career goals. The vibe is commuter-heavy and decentralized, meaning school spirit is often described as muted compared to residential state schools—students come for class and career connections, with social life extending into the city itself. Facilities like the Student Center serve as crucial hubs for hanging out, studying, and enjoying performances between classes.
Outcomes at Georgia State tell a story of remarkable transformation. The university’s graduation rate stands at 53%, a figure that represents a dramatic climb from a baseline where the institutional 6-year graduation rate was once 32% and underserved populations were foundering. This improvement is the result of a nationally recognized, data-intensive strategy to close achievement gaps. For instance, the university has successfully eliminated the graduation rate gap between Black and white students at its Perimeter College. For graduates, the median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,384. The value of an advanced degree from GSU is significant, with graduate alumni reporting high average salaries: master's alumni average $106,700 and doctoral alumni average $122,700. The overarching narrative is one of a university intensely focused on moving students, particularly those from underrepresented and backgrounds, from enrollment to degree completion and into the workforce.
Georgia State positions itself as an affordable public option, particularly for in-state students. The average after aid is $15,931. For Georgia residents, tuition is a relatively accessible $5,830. The university is aggressive in providing aid, with 94% of full-time beginning undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid. A notable 97% of Georgia State students with demonstrated need receive some form of financial assistance. The average aid package is reported to be $8,636. The financial aid office encourages families to "borrow wisely" and work with counselors to ensure no more debt than necessary is taken on, though the university does not advertise a formal "no-loan" policy that meets 100% of need without loans. The primary message is one of accessibility, leveraging scholarships, grants (including Georgia's HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships), and federal aid to make attendance feasible for its demographic.
Georgia State stands out not for Gothic architecture or football Saturdays, but for its revolutionary, unflinching commitment to student success at scale. It has been lauded as a national model for using predictive analytics to proactively support students, famously deploying an early-alert system that identifies when a student is at risk of dropping a class or falling behind. This data-driven intervention has been the engine behind its celebrated achievement: completely closing the graduation rate gap between white, Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. In a higher education landscape often critiqued for inequality, GSU demonstrates that a large, urban, diverse public university can be the great equalizer. It’s a place where the mission is tangible—every policy and program is geared toward one metric: graduation. This makes it a powerhouse for students and working adults seeking a practical, respected degree in the heart of a major city, with a proven track record of turning enrollment into a diploma.
Georgia State University seal · sourceCreating A True College Town Downtown · sourceGeorgia State Plan Will Transform Atlanta Campus - Georgia State University News - University Advancement - Academic Unit News · sourceExplore the Georgia State Campus - SEC · source
