Valdosta State University
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Why Valdosta State University Matters
Valdosta State University is a public doctoral / professional university in Valdosta, 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 Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 6,622
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Humanities
Why students choose Valdosta 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 72% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 920–1100. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,945 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,361 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $24,779 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 59% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.24 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Valdosta State University serves 6,622 students with a 72% acceptance rate, making it accessible for many aspiring college students. The net price for attendance is $10,945, which is relatively affordable compared to many public universities.
Graduates from Valdosta State University earn an average of $49,361 ten years after enrollment. The university has a 42% graduation rate, indicating that less than half of students complete their degrees within a traditional timeframe. The Pell Grant rate of 52% suggests that a significant portion of the student body comes from low-income backgrounds, which can impact graduation rates and post-graduation earnings.
Students who thrive at Valdosta State are often those pursuing degrees in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Humanities, or Psychology. The median debt for graduates sits at $24,779, a manageable figure for many. With a supportive environment and a diverse range of programs, Valdosta State University can be a good fit for those ready to engage in their academic journey.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Valdosta 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 Valdosta State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Valdosta, Georgia, Valdosta State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 72% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,013. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 42%.
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 Valdosta State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Valdosta State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,836 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,945 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,378 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,779.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Valdosta State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Valdosta State University earn a median of $49,361, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Valdosta 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%?
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 Valdosta State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Valdosta 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 1.29%, well above the typical college. About 8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Valdosta State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Valdosta State University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Valdosta State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Valdosta, Georgia, Valdosta State University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 72% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,013. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 42%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Valdosta State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Valdosta State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $17,836 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $10,945 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,378 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,779.
Is Valdosta State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Valdosta State University earn a median of $49,361, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Valdosta State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Valdosta 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 1.29%, well above the typical college. About 8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $83,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Valdosta 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 Valdosta State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.24 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Valdosta State University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Valdosta 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 Valdosta State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.24 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.