Georgia State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Georgia State University · Atlanta, Georgia · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Tests required
- 33,455
- Applicants
- 18,545
- Admitted55%
- 4,208
- Enrolled
- 23%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective55% admittedRanked #191 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #58 (tie), Computer Science #155 (tie), Nursing #94 (tie), Economics #88 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Georgia State University (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is Georgia State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Georgia State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Georgia State is a public university in Atlanta, Georgia that admits about 55% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $15,931 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Biology, General and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 53% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Georgia State is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Georgia State admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 55%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1076 and an ACT composite around 23. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,931 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Georgia State?
Georgia State admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
Compare Georgia State with the other schools on your list
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What does Georgia State weight in admissions?
Georgia State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
Considered
3- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Talent/ability
Not Considered
12- Class rank
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Georgia State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 460–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 590. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–26. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1076 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 19 |
| 50th percentile | 23 |
| 75th percentile | 26 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Atlanta Campus requires SAT or ACT from Fall 2026 (Freshman Index min 2500, GPA 2.75). Perimeter College associate route needs no SAT/ACT.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Georgia State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Georgia State actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,664 for in-state students and $24,840 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,392 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,931 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 51% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,931 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Georgia State
Will my child graduate from Georgia State?
These predict outcomes at Georgia State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Georgia State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Georgia State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. Across all programs, Georgia State confers roughly 2,573 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $46,935 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 448 | $46,935 |
| Biology, General | 375 | $53,171 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 374 | $56,279 |
| Computer Science | 353 | $105,149 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 319 | $86,056 |
| Marketing | 251 | $65,896 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 236 | $76,480 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 217 | $42,807 |
Is Georgia State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Georgia State disclosed 47 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 9 violent offenses and 15 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Georgia parents ask about
- Kennesaw State University69% acceptance
- Valdosta State University72% acceptance
- Georgia Southern University88% acceptance
- Georgia State University-Perimeter College91% acceptance
- Savannah College of Art and Design83% acceptance
- Spelman College25% acceptance
- Morehouse College44% acceptance
- Berry College64% acceptance
Next steps for Georgia State
Common questions parents ask about Georgia State
What GPA do I need for Georgia State?
Georgia State admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Georgia State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 460–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 590. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–26.
How much does Georgia State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Georgia State after grants and scholarships is $15,931 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,664 and $24,840 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Georgia State realistic for my child?
Georgia State admits 55% of applicants, so 460–590 SAT Math is target range and below 460 is a reach. Then check the $15,931 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Georgia State?
Georgia State accepts about 55% of applicants out of roughly 33,455 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Georgia State test-optional?
No. Georgia State requires SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2027 applicants. Atlanta Campus requires SAT or ACT from Fall 2026 (Freshman Index min 2500, GPA 2.75). Perimeter College associate route needs no SAT/ACT.
What is the graduation rate at Georgia State?
About 53% of students at Georgia State graduate within six years, and 33% finish in four years. 78% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Georgia State look for in applicants?
Georgia State rates course rigor, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Georgia State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Georgia State is a public institution located in Atlanta, Georgia.
What are the most popular majors at Georgia State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Georgia State by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. The school awards about 2,573 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Georgia State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Georgia State reported 47 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Georgia State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers