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Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

#1 Best Public Universities
Public Atlanta, GA · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A+ Earnings A+ Graduation A Selectivity
Graduation Rate
93% A+
Most students who enroll finish their degree here
Earnings (10yr)
$102,772 A+
Top 1% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$12,116 B-
29% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
14% A
Rejects about 86 of every 100 applicants
Earnings +152% vs avg
Graduation +63% vs avg
Net Price +-29% vs avg
Mobility Top 33%

Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 50.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $50.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Public Universities.

50.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $50.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,373,832.

What The Data Says

  1. An A- overall — top 12% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.

  2. Graduates earn 152% more than the national college median.

  3. A 93% graduation rate — 63% above the national average.

  4. Inventor rate in the top 7% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

  5. A top feeder school for 8 major employers.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
3.8%
Top 7%
Patents
666
Linked to graduates
World Rank
#27
Times Higher Education
Employer Pipelines
8
Top feeder programs
Patent Citations
1,348
Downstream influence
Research Score
73/100
Times Higher Education

Why Georgia Institute of Technology Matters

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public research university in Atlanta, GA ranked #27 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 1% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
18,785
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Georgia Institute of Technology

Elite STEM ecosystem
Engineering, computing, and the sciences dominate its programs
Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Startup & founder culture
Inventors produced at the top 7% rate nationally
Technology commercialization
Strong industry partnerships and knowledge transfer
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Highly selective peer group
Surrounded by exceptionally high-achieving students

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

A-
Top 12% overall
A+
Earnings
$102,772 median
A
Value
8.5× net price
B-
Affordability
$12,116/yr net
A+
Graduation
93% graduate
B-
Social Mobility
1.9% climb Q1→Q5
A
Selectivity
14% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.74 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Georgia Institute of Technology has an impressive graduation rate of 93%, showcasing its commitment to student success. This high rate indicates that most students not only enroll but also complete their degrees, a critical factor for anyone considering their future at this institution.

Graduates from Georgia Tech see significant financial returns, earning a median salary of $102,772 a decade after finishing their degrees. This strong earning potential underscores the effectiveness of the education provided, particularly in high-demand fields like engineering and computer science. The school plays an important role in enhancing economic mobility, although specific rates for low-income students are not available.

With a net price of $12,116 and a median debt of $21,672, Georgia Tech presents a financially manageable option for many students. Those who thrive here are typically driven, with a focus on STEM fields, and come from diverse backgrounds. The competitive acceptance rate of 14% reflects the school's selectivity, attracting students who are ready to engage in rigorous academic challenges.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus sets a competitive bar: about 14% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,480. The graduation rate is roughly 93%.

Acceptance Rate
14%
Retention Rate
98%
SAT Average
1480
ACT Midpoint
32
SAT Range
1370–1540
ACT Range
30–34
Full-Time Faculty
90%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$15,393
Student–Faculty Ratio
19:1
Diversity Index
0.74
First-Gen Students
15%
Applicants
50,610
Admitted
8,672

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is $34,484, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,116. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,666 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,672 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$12,058
Out-of-State
$34,484
Avg Net Price
$12,116
Median Debt
$21,672
Pell Grant Rate
14%
Federal Loan Rate
17%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,666
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,209
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,818
Family Income $110K+
$17,396

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus earn a median of $102,772, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$89,432
8 Years
$94,647
10 Years
$102,772
Debt-to-Earnings
0.21x
Earning > $25K
87%

Earnings Trajectory

$89,432 6yr $94,647 8yr $102,772 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (1,303)
47%
100% (1,303)
47%
100% (1,303)
47%
100% (1,303)
47%

Where Grads Go

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a top feeder for:

Rank among programs feeding each employer.

Top employers of Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

How Georgia Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation93%Earnings 10yr$103KNet Price$12KRetention98%Median Debt$22KPell Grant Rate14%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$7K$30-48K$11K$48-75K$17K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%3.2%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%57.5%MOBILITY1.86%

College ROI Calculator

Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,116/year ($48,464 total). Graduates earn $102,772 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,422,296 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,373,832 (50.0× your investment). The median debt is $21,672, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 93% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$48,464
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,422,296
Net Return
$2,373,832
ROI Multiple
50.0×
Cost Per Year
$12,116
Median Debt
$21,672
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
93%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.86%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 57.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $126,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.86%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
57.5%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
3.2%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$171,190
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.70
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.8%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Research & Teaching

Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings

How Research-Intensive Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus at #27 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 73/100, teaching at 68/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

World Rank
#27
Teaching
67.9
Research
72.6
Citations
83.2
International
73.2

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 7% of U.S. colleges, with 666 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 73/100 research score.

Inventor Rate
3.81%
Top 7% nationally
Patents Produced
666
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
1,348
Downstream influence
Research Score
73/100
Times Higher Ed
Academic Influence
83/100
Citation impact (THE)
Industry Engagement
95/100
Knowledge transfer (THE)
Inventors From Low-Income
1.81%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-1,116,004

Top Programs

The fields Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus sets a competitive bar: about 14% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,480. The graduation rate is roughly 93%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is $34,484, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,116. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,666 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,672 in federal student loans.

Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus earn a median of $102,772, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.86%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 57.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $126,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus at #27 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 73/100, teaching at 68/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

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