Georgia State University

In the 2027 US News Best Colleges rankings, Georgia State University placed 191 among national universities, continuing an upward trajectory from 234 in 2023. Gaining admission is relatively selective compared to institutional benchmarks. For 2025, the university admitted 55.4% of applicants, an acceptance rate that is higher than only 3% of peer schools in its comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public research universities. While admissions standards are tighter than those of most regional peers, admitted students show a moderate inclination to enroll. Georgia State recorded a yield rate of 22.7%, which is higher than 60% of peer schools. Because fewer than a quarter of admitted applicants ultimately register, the university must evaluate a high volume of candidates to meet its enrollment targets. Prospective applicants must demonstrate solid credentials, as competition for available seats has tightened significantly even as the institution maintains an accessible profile relative to large public peers nationwide.

Undergraduate admissions at Georgia State University feature standardized test score profiles that are accessible compared to institutional peers. For enrolled students in 2025, the median SAT score was 1060, which was lower than all peer schools in its comparison group of 27 reporting public research universities. For candidates reporting scores, the middle 50% composite score on the ACT ranged between 19 and 26, reflecting similar mid-range benchmarks across both the English and math subsections. Score submission rates have declined substantially over the past decade, with only about one-third of the incoming class submitting SAT scores and roughly an eighth providing ACT results. High school grade records carry substantial weight in evaluating readiness, and applicants seeking to stand out should target credentials around or above the upper end of the composite ranges to strengthen their chances during application review.

Degrees at Georgia State University are moderately dispersed across disciplines, with the three largest bachelor's majors accounting for 28.2% of all undergraduate degrees awarded in 2025. Bachelor's conferrals are led by Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Computer Science, and General Psychology. However, the largest undergraduate majors do not entirely align with the school's top-ranked programs. Nationally prominent specialties are concentrated in professional tracks, such as undergraduate Insurance, ranked 4th nationally by US News in 2027, and graduate Urban Planning and Policy, ranked 1st in 2026. Substantial earning differences exist across academic tracks. In 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, Registered Nursing graduates led undergraduate earners with median pay of $92,462, outperforming technical fields like Computer Science where median compensation reached $76,531. Prospective students should weigh whether they are pursuing large foundational majors or specialized, highly ranked professional programs.

Georgia State University maintains a diverse student body across its undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, Asian students represented 867 incoming freshmen, accounting for 20.6% of that entering cohort, while also forming a solid segment of continuing undergraduates. International students maintain a modest footprint among undergraduates, but they play a much larger role in advanced studies. In the graduate division, international students numbered 1,748, representing 23.2% of all enrolled graduate students. Black students constitute the largest racial group across the undergraduate population, while White students lead graduate enrollment followed closely by Black students. Across nearly every academic level and demographic category, female students make up the majority of enrollment, including nearly two-thirds of the graduate division.

Undergraduate life at Georgia State University is predominantly driven by traditional college-age students, though older undergraduates maintain a steady footprint. In 2025, students aged 20 to 21 constituted the largest single group at 32% of the undergraduate population, followed by those aged 18 to 19 at 27.5%. This concentration creates a traditional campus rhythm centered around early adulthood. At the graduate level, enrollment leans heavily toward early-career scholars and working adults, with students aged 25 to 29 making up 31.5% of the graduate cohort. This division provides an academic environment where undergraduate student life centers on immediate post-secondary milestones while graduate programs cater to young professionals.

International student enrollment at Georgia State University has expanded across both undergraduate and graduate levels over the past decade, though foreign scholars concentrate heavily in advanced technical disciplines. In 2025, international students made up 4.2% of the undergraduate population, up steadily from earlier years and higher than 83% of peer schools in its comparison group of 30 similarly ranked public research universities. At the graduate level, global enrollment has grown even more significantly, reaching 23.2% in 2025. Among graduating students, international representation varies sharply by degree tier and academic field. While international undergraduates account for a minor share of bachelor's degree recipients with modest concentrations in Biology/Biological Sciences and Computer Science, they dominate several master's programs. In 2025, international students earned 93.9% of master's degrees awarded in Computer Science, while also comprising substantial majorities in Computer and Information Sciences and quantitative management fields.

Applicants considering Georgia State University have several alternative higher education options located nearby in the Atlanta area. Just 1.4 kilometers away sits Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, a public national university ranked 29 in the 2027 rankings. Approximately 1.5 kilometers from campus is Spelman College, a liberal arts college ranked 34. A short distance farther, 4.4 kilometers away, is Emory University, a private national university ranked 23. Additionally, Agnes Scott College, a liberal arts college ranked 62, is located 5.4 kilometers from Georgia State. These nearby institutions give prospective students distinct campus settings ranging from major private research institutions to focused liberal arts colleges within minutes of downtown Atlanta.

Campus safety records at Georgia State University reflect consistent overall rates alongside proactive enforcement of institutional rules. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate of 6.5 per 1,000 students, remaining unchanged from its level a decade earlier. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of recorded campus incidents involved substance policy violations handled through internal disciplinary channels. Disciplinary referrals for drug infractions led all categories with 351 incidents, followed by 331 disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations over that span. Law enforcement officers also carried out 197 drug arrests during the same timeframe. By comparison, interpersonal offenses and weapons violations occurred at considerably lower frequencies, including smaller counts of stalking, sexual harassment, and weapons referrals. For prospective students evaluating the urban setting, official campus safety data indicates that administrative conduct enforcement regarding drugs and alcohol forms the primary driver of reported incidents.