Georgia Southern University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Statesboro, Georgia. It enrolls 21,790 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes49
Value75
Affordability66
Selectivity23
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.9%, Georgia Southern University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
986 – 1133
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Georgia Southern University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Georgia Southern University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,267 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,267
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,022
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,734
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,492
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,428
Books & Supplies
$1,216
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,176
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,454
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,430
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,162
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,564
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,965
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,408
Over $110,000
$19,789
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$26,42775%percentile
$35,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,388
↓ $5,862
No Pell $12,699
↓ $10,551
Dependent students $15,032
↓ $8,218
Independent students $15,750
↓ $7,500
Female students $15,826
↓ $7,424
Male students $14,500
↓ $8,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,982, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Georgia Southern University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Georgia Southern University earn a median of $53,236 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,236
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,800, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Georgia Southern University is home to 21,790 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
21,790
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 54.3%11,832
Black 23.0%5,005
Hispanic 7.6%1,665
Other 5.1%1,120
Asian 1.8%386
International 1.4%305
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Georgia Southern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantStatesboro, Georgia
Housing
Partly residential5,722 beds available
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Georgia Southern University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
118 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Georgia Southern University is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,914
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$106M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,925
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
908 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
239
26%
$97,963
Associate Professors
267
29%
$85,515
Assistant Professors
169
19%
$83,345
Instructors
74
8%
$54,237
Lecturers
159
18%
$63,164
Pros & Cons of Georgia Southern University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Georgia Southern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Georgia Southern University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Georgia Southern University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Georgia Southern University.
Is Georgia Southern University hard to get into?
Georgia Southern University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Georgia Southern University?
Georgia Southern University has an acceptance rate of 87.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Georgia Southern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Georgia Southern University scored between 986 and 1133 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Georgia Southern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Georgia Southern University scored between 18 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Georgia Southern University cost?
The average net price after aid at Georgia Southern University is $15,267 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Georgia Southern University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,236 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,267 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Georgia Southern University known for?
Georgia Southern University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Nursing, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Georgia Southern University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Georgia Southern University are $53,236, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Georgia Southern University accredited?
Yes. Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Georgia Southern University?
Georgia Southern University enrolls 21,790 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Georgia Southern University?
Georgia Southern University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Georgia Southern University a public or private college?
Georgia Southern University is a Public institution.
Where is Georgia Southern University located?
Georgia Southern University is located in Statesboro, Georgia.
What programs does Georgia Southern University offer?
Georgia Southern University offers 118 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Nursing, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Georgia Southern University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Georgia Southern University is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Georgia
Other colleges in Georgia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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