Valdosta State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Valdosta State University · Valdosta, Georgia · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 5,491
- Applicants
- 4,266
- Admitted78%
- 1,225
- Enrolled
- 29%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access78% admittedRanked #382-422 in National Universities; Business Programs #345 (tie), Computer Science #502 (tie), Nursing #243 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Valdosta State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-16.
Is Valdosta State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Valdosta State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Valdosta State is a public university in Valdosta, Georgia that admits about 78% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $10,945 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 45% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Valdosta State is a public institution located in Valdosta, Georgia. For the most recent reporting cycle, Valdosta State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 78%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1000 and an ACT composite around 20. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $10,945 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Valdosta State?
66% of enrolled students at Valdosta State had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.42, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Valdosta State with the other schools on your list
Open Valdosta State in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does Valdosta State weight in admissions?
Valdosta State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
Not Considered
16- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- 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 Valdosta State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 440–530, with an EBRW midpoint near 535. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 16–22. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 920 |
| 50th percentile | 1000 |
| 75th percentile | 1080 |
| % submitting SAT | 23.93% |
| 25th percentile | 15 |
| 50th percentile | 17 |
| 75th percentile | 20 |
| % submitting ACT | 6.56% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • 3.2+ academic GPA admitted without tests; 3.1 or lower must submit ACT/SAT (Freshman Index 2040). Page footer dated 2023.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Valdosta State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Valdosta State actually cost?
Published tuition is $6,124 for in-state students and $17,836 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $9,530 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $10,945 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 52% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $4,536 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $17,040 |
| Room and board | $9,862 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $10,945 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 89% |
| Average need-based grant | $10,392 |
| Average merit award, no financial need44 first-year students received one | $2,514 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 67% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $26,206 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $40 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Valdosta State
| Regular deadline | 8/1 |
Will my child graduate from Valdosta State?
These predict outcomes at Valdosta State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Valdosta State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Valdosta State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. Across all programs, Valdosta State confers roughly 809 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $55,405 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 212 | $55,405 |
| Psychology, General | 102 | $42,653 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 102 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 90 | $48,769 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 85 | $46,049 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 80 | $44,444 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 76 | $78,057 |
| Biology, General | 62 | $54,815 |
Is Valdosta State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Valdosta State disclosed 19 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Valdosta State?
About 26% of undergraduates at Valdosta State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 4% of men join a fraternity and 8% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Georgia parents ask about
- 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
- Augusta University86% acceptance
- Emory University-Oxford College13% acceptance
Next steps for Valdosta State
Common questions parents ask about Valdosta State
What GPA do I need for Valdosta State?
66% of enrolled students at Valdosta State had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.42, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Valdosta State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 440–530, with an EBRW midpoint near 535. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 16–22.
How much does Valdosta State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Valdosta State after grants and scholarships is $10,945 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $6,124 and $17,836 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Valdosta State realistic for my child?
Valdosta State admits 78% of applicants, so 440–530 SAT Math is target range and below 440 is a reach. Then check the $10,945 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Valdosta State?
Valdosta State accepts about 78% of applicants out of roughly 5,491 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Valdosta State test-optional?
Yes. Valdosta State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered. 3.2+ academic GPA admitted without tests; 3.1 or lower must submit ACT/SAT (Freshman Index 2040). Page footer dated 2023.
What is the graduation rate at Valdosta State?
About 45% of students at Valdosta State graduate within six years, and 30% finish in four years. 73% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Valdosta State look for in applicants?
Valdosta State rates 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 Valdosta State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Valdosta State is a public institution located in Valdosta, Georgia.
What are the most popular majors at Valdosta State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Valdosta State by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. The school awards about 809 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Valdosta State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Valdosta State reported 19 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Valdosta State?
At Valdosta State, 26% of undergraduates live on campus, 4% of men are in fraternities, 8% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Valdosta State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers