University of Georgia: the complete school report for parents
University of Georgia puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 34.3% admit rate and 87% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Transfer applicants are admitted at 64.9% against 34.3% for first-years, so the transfer route is materially wider.
University of Georgia is officially University of Georgia, also known as Uga. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does University of Georgia actually weigh in admissions?
University of Georgia rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 7 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is University of Georgia's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How University of Georgia rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Important |
| the essay | Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Considered |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Not Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does University of Georgia consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does University of Georgia consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does University of Georgia consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does University of Georgia consider the application essay?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider recommendation letters?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider class rank?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does University of Georgia consider demonstrated interest?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does University of Georgia consider an interview?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does University of Georgia consider legacy status?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does University of Georgia consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does University of Georgia consider where we live?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it.
Does University of Georgia consider state residency?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it.
Does University of Georgia consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does University of Georgia consider religious affiliation?
No. University of Georgia does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
87% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 4.17 on a 4.0 scale, reported for 100% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 87.06% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 11.32% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 0.82% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 0.29% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.16% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.23% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0.1% |
What is the University of Georgia waitlist really like?
University of Georgia offered a place on its waiting list to 4,442 applicants and 437 accepted one. were ultimately admitted. That is 0.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
University of Georgia admitted 64.9% of 3,780 transfer applicants, against 34.3% of first-year applicants. For a student who does not get in at eighteen, the transfer route is a genuinely wider door and worth planning for deliberately.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
University of Georgia reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | January 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | October 15 |
| Application fee | $70 |
| Fee waiver available | Not reported |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
University of Georgia requires 17 academic units and recommends 19. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 4 years | 4 years |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 2 years | 3 years |
What will University of Georgia actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $13,936 a year at University of Georgia after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $10,034. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 77.9% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 419 merit awards averaging $2,191 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $8,085 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $8,686 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $13,096 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $16,942 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,079 |
30% of University of Georgia graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $21,660 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $196 a month in repayment. University of Georgia’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from University of Georgia pay off?
Graduates earn a median $68,726 ten years after entering, and $57,565 at six years. 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 68% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $32,340 | 1.3 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $34,744 | 1.4 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $52,384 | 2.1 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $67,768 | 2.7 |
| Over $110,000 | $72,316 | 2.9 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$111,592 to $36,514, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at University of Georgia:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Management Information Systems and Services | $111,592 | 358 |
| International Business | $110,872 | 102 |
| Computer Science | $100,784 | 292 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $95,338 | 544 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $91,429 | 208 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $90,785 | 182 |
| Insurance | $89,304 | 253 |
| Marketing | $82,677 | 375 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $75,756 | 227 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $49,018 | 169 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $43,583 | 41 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $36,514 | 17 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
94% of first-years return for a second year. 89% within six (Fall 2019 cohort).
How big are the classes?
44% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 6% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 17:1, and 90% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at University of Georgia like?
32,824 undergraduates, 20% of first-years from out of state. 98% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 66% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 37% of men join a fraternity and 25% of women a sorority. 18% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $71,225.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. University of Georgia recommends 19 academic units.
- 87% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 4.17. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- If the first-year answer is no, the transfer route is genuinely wider here and worth planning for from the first semester of college.
- Its highest-earning major returns $111,592 five years out against $36,514 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about University of Georgia
What GPA do you need for University of Georgia?
87% of enrolled students at University of Georgia had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.17, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What do University of Georgia graduates earn?
University of Georgia graduates earn a median $68,726 ten years after entering, and 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with University of Georgia
- South CarolinaAdmissions report · 56.5% admit rate
- NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | NCSUAdmissions report · 39.5% admit rate
- Ole MissAdmissions report · 97.4% admit rate
- Oklahoma State University-Main CampusAdmissions report · 73.7% admit rate
- IowaAdmissions report · 79.9% admit rate
- ISUAdmissions report · 87.9% admit rate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: University of Georgia’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.
How to read these numbers · Back to the University of Georgia profile