Piedmont University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Demorest, Georgia. It enrolls 1,117 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
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes33
Value37
Affordability61
Selectivity27
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 93.3%, Piedmont University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
93.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1038 – 1245
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 25
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 Piedmont University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
38.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Piedmont 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 $20,599 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,599
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
66%
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
$31,700
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,100
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,668
Books & Supplies
$1,298
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,630
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,630
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,801
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
$15,416
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,618
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,085
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,161
Over $110,000
$25,622
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.
$4,26610%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$26,99675%percentile
$36,61890%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 $20,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $15,000
↓ $10,000
Dependent students $16,650
↓ $8,350
Independent students $22,229
↓ $2,771
Female students $18,750
↓ $6,250
Male students $14,341
↓ $10,659
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
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Piedmont University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
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 Piedmont University earn a median of $49,130 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,130
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$40,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 18% 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 ↑
20.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Piedmont University is home to 1,117 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,117
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 64.6%722
Black 13.6%152
Hispanic 12.1%135
Other 4.0%45
International 1.0%11
Asian 0.9%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Piedmont University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantDemorest, Georgia
Housing
Strongly residential1,023 beds for 1,117 students
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Piedmont University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
20 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 Piedmont University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$112M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,380
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
92 instructional faculty across 4 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
29
32%
$74,519
Associate Professors
30
33%
$65,359
Assistant Professors
29
32%
$62,120
Instructors
4
4%
$45,903
Pros & Cons of Piedmont University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Piedmont University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Piedmont 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 Piedmont University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Piedmont University.
Is Piedmont University hard to get into?
Piedmont University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 93.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Piedmont University?
Piedmont University has an acceptance rate of 93.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Piedmont University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Piedmont University scored between 1038 and 1245 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 Piedmont University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Piedmont University scored between 18 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Piedmont University cost?
The average net price after aid at Piedmont University is $20,599 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Piedmont University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,130 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,599 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Piedmont University known for?
Piedmont University is best known for its programs in Curriculum & Instruction, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Piedmont University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Piedmont University are $49,130, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Piedmont University accredited?
Yes. Piedmont University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Piedmont University?
Piedmont University enrolls 1,117 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Piedmont University?
Piedmont University graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Piedmont University a public or private college?
Piedmont University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Piedmont University located?
Piedmont University is located in Demorest, Georgia.
What programs does Piedmont University offer?
Piedmont University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Curriculum & Instruction, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Piedmont University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Piedmont University is 12:1, 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.
Business Administration
Nursing
Teacher Education (K-12)
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