Georgia State University
#5 Best Computer Science Colleges in Georgia- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,384 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,931 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.8 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Georgia.
Every $1 spent returns $19.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,200,662.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Social mobility rate of 2.08% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #350-400
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 20/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Georgia State University Matters
Georgia State University is a public research university in Atlanta, GA ranked #350-400 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 26,623
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Georgia State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 940–1180. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,931 a year after grants and scholarships — 7% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,384 ten years after enrolling — 16% above the typical college, against $20,903 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 26% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.28 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Georgia State University serves over 26,000 students with a competitive acceptance rate of 55%. This large public university offers a diverse range of programs, particularly excelling in Business, Computer Science, and Psychology.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights that students from low-income backgrounds have a strong chance of upward mobility after graduation. This suggests that Georgia State is effective at supporting students in transitioning to higher earning potential. While specific mobility rates are not available, the graduation rate of 53% shows that many students are completing their degrees.
Financially, the net price for students is $15,931, and the median debt stands at $20,903. Graduates earn an average of $47,384 after ten years. Students who thrive here are often those who take advantage of the university's urban location and connections in Atlanta's job market, particularly in business and technology sectors.
Rankings
- #5 Best Computer Science Colleges in Georgia
- #5 Best Data Science Colleges in Georgia
- #11 Best Online Colleges in Georgia
- #11 Best Biology Colleges in Georgia
- #13 Best Colleges in Georgia
- #14 Best Business Colleges in Georgia
- #16 Best Bachelor's Programs in Georgia
- #16 Best Master's Programs in Georgia
Can I Get In?
How selective Georgia State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Georgia State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,076. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- SAT Average
- 1076
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 940–1180
- ACT Range
- 19–26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 75%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,404
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 26:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 26,050
- Admitted
- 17,396
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Georgia State University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 23% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 23%
- of admits enroll
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 State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Georgia State University is $24,840, 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 $15,931. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,787 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,903 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,664
- Out-of-State
- $24,840
- Avg Net Price
- $15,931
- Median Debt
- $20,903
- Pell Grant Rate
- 51%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 40%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,787
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,430
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,656
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,305
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 State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Georgia State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Georgia State University earn a median of $47,384, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,844
- 8 Years
- $42,670
- 10 Years
- $47,384
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,042)
- 29%
- 100% (1,042)
- 29%
- 100% (1,042)
- 29%
- 100% (1,042)
- 29%
How Georgia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Georgia State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Georgia State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,931/year ($63,724 total). Graduates earn $47,384 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,264,386 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,200,662 (19.8× your investment). The median debt is $20,903, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $63,724
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,264,386
- Net Return
- $1,200,662
- ROI Multiple
- 19.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,931
- Median Debt
- $20,903
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
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 State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Georgia State University 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 2.08%, among the highest in the country. About 9.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.08%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 22.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $111,681
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 20/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 34/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 39/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-823,680
Top Programs
The fields Georgia State University 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.
- Business & Marketing 19% $67,362 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 16% $82,387 early-career
- Psychology 9% $32,848 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $47,206 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $36,562 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $51,437 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $75,026 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $41,941 early-career
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Georgia State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Georgia State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia State University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,076. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgia State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Georgia State University is $24,840, 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 $15,931. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,787 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,903 in federal student loans.
Is Georgia State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Georgia State University earn a median of $47,384, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Georgia State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Georgia State University 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 2.08%, among the highest in the country. About 9.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Georgia State University? 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 State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Georgia State University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Georgia State University at #350-400 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 20/100, teaching at 20/100, and citation impact of 34/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Georgia State University offer Early Decision?
No. Georgia State University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Georgia State University?
About 23% of admitted students choose to enroll at Georgia State University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Georgia State University.
- University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguez, PR · Close peer48% grad $48,992 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Akron Main CampusAkron, OH · Close peer50% grad $46,600 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN · Close peer54% grad $48,541 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- University of South AlabamaMobile, AL · Close peer53% grad $49,379 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · Close peer53% grad $53,236 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price · same state
- University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock, AR · Close peer42% grad $45,265 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Georgia State University? 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 State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.28, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note