Gordon State College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Barnesville, Georgia. It enrolls 2,544 students (a mid-sized 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
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes3
Value89
Affordability89
Selectivity22
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 85.9%, Gordon State College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
85.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
890 – 1130
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 24
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 Gordon State College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Gordon State College 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 $8,105 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,105
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
48%
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)
$3,628
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,948
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,444
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,002
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,376
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,376
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,771
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
$6,912
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,817
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,435
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,326
Over $110,000
$12,615
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$17,500Medianpercentile
$15,59975%percentile
$25,75090%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 $9,500
↓ $8,000
No Pell $7,036
↓ $10,464
Dependent students $8,250
↓ $9,250
Independent students $10,273
↓ $7,227
Female students $9,500
↓ $8,000
Male students $7,240
↓ $10,260
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,960, less than completers ($17,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at Gordon State College graduate within six years, and 50% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
50%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Gordon State College earn a median of $37,871 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,871
Earning > $25K
63%
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
$32,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$38,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,800, about 17% 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 ↑
15.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Gordon State College is home to 2,544 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,544
Part-Time
34%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 48.0%1,221
Black 39.9%1,014
Hispanic 6.3%160
Other 3.8%96
Asian 1.1%29
International 0.3%8
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gordon State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantBarnesville, Georgia
Housing
Partly residential782 beds available
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Gordon State College offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
18 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 Gordon State College is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,142
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$4.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,004
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
81 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
36
44%
$77,298
Associate Professors
15
19%
$65,714
Assistant Professors
15
19%
$63,789
Instructors
5
6%
$56,644
Lecturers
10
12%
$55,498
Pros & Cons of Gordon State College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gordon State College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Gordon State College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gordon State College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gordon State College.
Is Gordon State College hard to get into?
Gordon State College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 85.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Gordon State College?
Gordon State College has an acceptance rate of 85.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Gordon State College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gordon State College scored between 890 and 1130 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 Gordon State College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gordon State College scored between 15 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Gordon State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Gordon State College is $8,105 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gordon State College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,871 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,105 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gordon State College known for?
Gordon State College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gordon State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gordon State College are $37,871, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gordon State College accredited?
Yes. Gordon State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Gordon State College?
Gordon State College enrolls 2,544 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gordon State College?
Gordon State College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gordon State College a public or private college?
Gordon State College is a Public institution.
Where is Gordon State College located?
Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, Georgia.
What programs does Gordon State College offer?
Gordon State College offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gordon State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gordon State College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Gordon State College
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