Oglethorpe University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Atlanta, Georgia. It enrolls 1,352 students (a small, tight-knit 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
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes42
Value56
Affordability56
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.5%, Oglethorpe University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1090 – 1310
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 31
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 Oglethorpe University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Oglethorpe 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 $19,509 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,509
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
68%
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
$47,590
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,780
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,560
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,750
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$60,581
Application fee: $50 (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
$16,207
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,558
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,745
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,924
Over $110,000
$22,055
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.
$4,75010%percentile
$5,56025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,00090%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 $17,000
↓ $8,000
No Pell $12,000
↓ $13,000
Dependent students $14,250
↓ $10,750
Independent students $20,072
↓ $4,928
Female students $15,750
↓ $9,250
Male students $13,000
↓ $12,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Oglethorpe University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Oglethorpe University earn a median of $55,232 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,232
Earning > $25K
77%
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
$45,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,100, 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 ↑
18.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Oglethorpe University is home to 1,352 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,352
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 30.7%415
White 27.6%373
Black 20.0%271
Other 3.9%53
Asian 3.6%49
International 2.7%36
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Oglethorpe University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbAtlanta, Georgia
Housing
Mostly residential824 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Oglethorpe University offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
15 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 Oglethorpe University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$120M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,518
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
88 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
16
18%
$86,063
Associate Professors
15
17%
$73,019
Assistant Professors
25
28%
$66,389
Instructors
11
13%
$61,594
Lecturers
21
24%
$58,098
Pros & Cons of Oglethorpe University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Oglethorpe 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
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Oglethorpe University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oglethorpe University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Oglethorpe University.
Is Oglethorpe University hard to get into?
Oglethorpe University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Oglethorpe University?
Oglethorpe University has an acceptance rate of 88.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Oglethorpe University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Oglethorpe University scored between 1090 and 1310 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 Oglethorpe University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Oglethorpe University scored between 22 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Oglethorpe University cost?
The average net price after aid at Oglethorpe University is $19,509 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oglethorpe University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,232 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,509 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Oglethorpe University known for?
Oglethorpe University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Experimental Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Oglethorpe University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Oglethorpe University are $55,232, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Oglethorpe University accredited?
Yes. Oglethorpe University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Oglethorpe University?
Oglethorpe University enrolls 1,352 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Oglethorpe University?
Oglethorpe University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Oglethorpe University a public or private college?
Oglethorpe University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Oglethorpe University located?
Oglethorpe University is located in Atlanta, Georgia.
What programs does Oglethorpe University offer?
Oglethorpe University offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Experimental Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Oglethorpe University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Oglethorpe University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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