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University of North Georgia logo
Public Dahlonega, GA · Town · Southeast · 100% data
B+ Value B Affordability B- Earnings
Graduation Rate
37% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$50,135 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$9,823 B
43% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
68% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +23% vs avg
Graduation -35% vs avg
Net Price +-43% vs avg
Mobility Top 64%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Georgia.

30.6× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $30.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,162,681.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 23% above the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 37% — 35% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $30.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of North Georgia Matters

University of North Georgia is a public university in Dahlonega, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by 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 University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
16,146
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions

Why students choose University of North Georgia

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 42% overall
B-
Earnings
$50,135 median
B+
Value
5.1× net price
B
Affordability
$9,823/yr net
D
Graduation
37% graduate
C-
Social Mobility
1.2% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
68% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.51 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of over 16,000 students, the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega is an appealing choice for those seeking a solid education in fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Health Professions, and Education. The acceptance rate of 68% suggests that while the school is accessible, it still maintains a level of selectivity. This makes it a good fit for students who are looking for a balanced academic environment where they can explore their interests and prepare for their careers.

Graduates from UNG can expect a median earning of $50,135 a decade after finishing their degree. This number highlights the potential for financial stability following graduation, especially when you consider that 28% of students are receiving Pell Grants, which often supports those with lower incomes. While the graduation rate sits at 37%, many students find pathways to success through various support systems and resources available on campus, which can help them advance in their careers once they leave.

When it comes to the financial side of things, the net price for attending UNG is around $9,823 after aid, which is quite manageable compared to many other institutions. The median debt for graduates is $17,750, suggesting that students can graduate with a relatively low financial burden. This affordability, coupled with the diverse programs that cater to a variety of interests and career goals, attracts a broad range of students who are motivated to succeed and ready to engage with their studies.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of North Georgia 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 University of North Georgia? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Dahlonega, Georgia, University of North Georgia offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,106. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.

Acceptance Rate
68%
Retention Rate
73%
SAT Average
1106
ACT Midpoint
23
SAT Range
980–1210
ACT Range
19–25
Full-Time Faculty
72%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,231
Diversity Index
0.51
First-Gen Students
34%
Applicants
11,920
Admitted
8,300

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26

The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of North Georgia 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. 44% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.

Yield Rate
44%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
39%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
15%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 54% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: University of North Georgia's Common Data Set, 2025-26 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

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 University of North Georgia? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of North Georgia is $16,503, 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 $9,823. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,981 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,750 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$5,285
Out-of-State
$16,503
Avg Net Price
$9,823
Median Debt
$17,750
Pell Grant Rate
28%
Federal Loan Rate
20%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$6,981
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,261
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,118
Family Income $110K+
$13,481

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 University of North Georgia — 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 University of North Georgia Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of North Georgia earn a median of $50,135, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$43,085
8 Years
$47,499
10 Years
$50,135
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
67%

Earnings Trajectory

$43,085 6yr $47,499 8yr $50,135 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (447)
31%
100% (447)
31%
100% (447)
31%
100% (447)
31%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation37%Earnings 10yr$50KNet Price$10KRetention73%Median Debt$18KPell Grant Rate28%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$7K$0-30K$7K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$13K$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%4.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%26.7%MOBILITY1.22%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of North Georgia Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, University of North Georgia delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,823/year ($39,292 total). Graduates earn $50,135 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,201,973 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,162,681 (30.6× your investment). The median debt is $17,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$39,292
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,201,973
Net Return
$1,162,681
ROI Multiple
30.6×
Cost Per Year
$9,823
Median Debt
$17,750
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
37%

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 University of North Georgia Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of North Georgia 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 1.22%, well above the typical college. About 4.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.22%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
26.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.6%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$130,838
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of North Georgia? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of North Georgia. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.45
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.9%
Support Ratio
0.99
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).

Top Programs

The fields University of North Georgia 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 University of North Georgia? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Dahlonega, Georgia, University of North Georgia offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,106. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of North Georgia? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of North Georgia is $16,503, 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 $9,823. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,981 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,750 in federal student loans.

Is University of North Georgia Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of North Georgia earn a median of $50,135, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does University of North Georgia Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of North Georgia 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 1.22%, well above the typical college. About 4.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of North Georgia? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of North Georgia. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Is University of North Georgia really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 54% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of North Georgia (2025-26 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of North Georgia?

About 44% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of North Georgia — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys