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Valdosta State University

Public Graduate Strong 70/100

Valdosta State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Valdosta, Georgia

About Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Valdosta, Georgia. It enrolls 6,622 students (a 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.

Official website: valdosta.edu

Acceptance: 72.3%
Graduation: 32.5%
Net Price: $10,945
Median Earnings (10yr): $49,361
Enrollment: 6,622
Student : Faculty: 17:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Strong

70/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 23

Value 88

Affordability 88

Selectivity 34

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 72.3%, Valdosta State University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

72.3%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

920 – 1100

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

16 – 22

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Required SAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Valdosta State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 26.3 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Valdosta State 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 $10,945 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$10,945

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

52%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

44%

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): $6,124
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $17,836
Room & Board (on-campus): $9,530
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,668
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $6,364
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,054
Total Cost of Attendance: $20,801

Application fee: $40 (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

$9,378
$30,001 – $48,000

$9,541
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,877
$75,001 – $110,000

$14,906
Over $110,000

$15,905

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.

$3,526

10% percentile

$6,500

25% percentile

$24,779

Median percentile

$28,750

75% percentile

$40,550

90% 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 $15,039 ↓ $9,740

No Pell $11,000 ↓ $13,779

Dependent students $13,000 ↓ $11,779

Independent students $17,774 ↓ $7,005

Female students $14,250 ↓ $10,529

Male students $12,500 ↓ $12,279

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($24,779), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

33% of full-time students who enrolled at Valdosta State University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

33%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

70%

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 Valdosta State University earn a median of $49,361 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$49,361

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

$37,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$47,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$37,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$42,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$44,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,200, about 20% 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 ↑ 22.5 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Valdosta State University is home to 6,622 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

6,622

Part-Time

21%

First-Generation

31%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 43.9% 2,910

Black 37.1% 2,456

Hispanic 11.5% 764

Other 4.0% 264

Asian 1.6% 104

International 1.3% 83

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Valdosta State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Valdosta, Georgia

Housing

Partly residential 2,320 beds available

Adult Learners

17% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Valdosta State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 82 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.

10 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

10 Programs

Health

Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)

1 Program

Library Science

Library Science and Administration $37K ($23K–$52K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

3 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)

3 Programs

Public Administration

Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

6 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Valdosta State University is 17:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

17:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$8,653

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$69M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$76,106

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

372 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	135	36%	$91,426
Associate Professors	73	20%	$78,093
Assistant Professors	78	21%	$70,163
Instructors	12	3%	$52,979
Lecturers	74	20%	$55,691

Pros & Cons of Valdosta State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Valdosta State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about Valdosta State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Valdosta State University.

Is Valdosta State University hard to get into?

Admissions at Valdosta State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Valdosta State University?

Valdosta State University has an acceptance rate of 72.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Valdosta State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Valdosta State University scored between 920 and 1100 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 Valdosta State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Valdosta State University scored between 16 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Valdosta State University cost?

The average net price after aid at Valdosta State University is $10,945 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Valdosta State University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,361 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,945 per year. That's roughly 4.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Valdosta State University known for?

Valdosta State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Library Science and Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Valdosta State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Valdosta State University are $49,361, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Valdosta State University accredited?

Yes. Valdosta State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How many students attend Valdosta State University?

Valdosta State University enrolls 6,622 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Valdosta State University?

Valdosta State University graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Valdosta State University a public or private college?

Valdosta State University is a Public institution.

Where is Valdosta State University located?

Valdosta State University is located in Valdosta, Georgia.

What programs does Valdosta State University offer?

Valdosta State University offers 82 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Library Science and Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Valdosta State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Valdosta State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.