As a Selective Achiever institution, Georgia Tech combines highly selective admission with exceptional post-graduation outcomes. The institution delivers among the highest we track return on investment while maintaining manageable debt levels, positioning graduates for strong financial stability and career advancement in technical fields.
With among the highest we track designation, driven by exceptional long-term earnings relative to educational investment
As above average, reflecting controlled costs and moderate debt levels relative to earnings outcomes
As well above average, indicating solid enrollment of transfer and first-generation students despite selective admission standards
With top-tier performance, reflecting strong earnings outcomes for diverse student backgrounds
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Top 5% nationally for graduate earnings
Georgia Institute of Technology ranks #54 nationally in Azimuth's comprehensive analysis, placing in the 96.7th percentile with excellent performance. This large public research university in Atlanta combines highly selective admission (16.5% acceptance rate) with exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Georgia Tech's classification as a Selective Achiever reflects strong earnings outcomes while serving fewer low-income students relative to typical public institutions. The institution enrolls 13.7% Pell-eligible students and 14.9% first-generation students, below average for public universities but consistent with its selective profile.
Graduates demonstrate exceptional long-term earnings, with median income reaching $102,772 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 99th percentile nationally. This places Georgia Tech $42,229 above the peer median of $60,543 annually, representing a substantial earnings premium for graduates entering the workforce.
Georgia Tech delivers exceptional earnings outcomes with controlled debt levels, creating strong return on investment for graduates. Median earnings reach $102,772 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 99th percentile nationally and representing among the highest we track for graduate income.
The earnings distribution spans from $73,294 at the 25th percentile to $136,204 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career trajectories across technical disciplines. Low-income graduates earn $83,900, demonstrating strong outcomes across economic backgrounds.
Students seeking top-tier STEM education, particularly in Engineering, Computer Science, and AI, who prioritize strong post-graduation earnings and are comfortable with highly selective admission. Well-suited for academically exceptional students looking for a public research university with exceptional return on investment and manageable debt levels despite selective standards.
Georgia Tech admits approximately 16.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 6 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Georgia Tech in the highly selective category, significantly more competitive than the typical public university.
The peer median admission rate of 78.1% highlights the substantial difference between Georgia Tech's selectivity and most four-year institutions, including other public research universities. Even among academically strong students, admission to Georgia Tech requires exceptional credentials and careful application strategy.
The institution's technical focus and national reputation for engineering and computer science attract highly qualified applicants from across the country, intensifying competition for available spots. Students should understand that Georgia Tech's selectivity reflects both program quality and capacity constraints rather than arbitrary admission policies.
For prospective applicants, this selectivity level means that even students with strong academic records face meaningful uncertainty in the admission process. Most successful applicants demonstrate excellence not only in standardized testing and GPA but also in mathematics preparation, technical coursework, and relevant extracurricular engagement.
Students considering Georgia Tech should build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable career outcomes, treating Georgia Tech as a reach school regardless of academic qualifications.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Georgia Tech's published cost of attendance reaches $27,797 annually for in-state students, including $11,764 in tuition, $12,760 for room and board, and $800 for books and supplies. Out-of-state tuition rises to $32,876, creating a total cost of attendance approaching $46,000 for non-residents.
However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid, with net price averaging $13,289 across all income levels. Financial aid reduces costs by an average of $14,508, representing substantial savings from the sticker price.
The net price of $13,289 compares favorably to the peer median of $15,590, indicating that Georgia Tech provides above-average value even after accounting for aid packages. Net prices vary considerably by family income, ranging from $7,491 for families earning under $30,000 to $17,250 for those earning above $110,000.
This progressive pricing structure reflects targeted aid toward lower-income families while maintaining accessibility across middle-income ranges. For in-state students, the combination of moderate tuition levels and substantial aid creates competitive net prices relative to other public research universities.
Out-of-state students face higher baseline costs but benefit from the same aid formulas, though net prices will typically exceed in-state levels. Families should use institutional aid calculators to estimate their specific net price rather than relying on published tuition figures.
Georgia Tech graduates achieve exceptional earnings growth over time, with consistent progression from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings advance from $89,432 six years after enrollment to $94,647 at eight years and $102,772 at ten years, representing 14.9% growth from the six-year benchmark.
These outcomes reflect data from 2,794 graduates in the ten-year cohort, providing high statistical confidence in reported figures. The earnings performance ranks at the 99th percentile nationally, placing Georgia Tech among the highest-performing institutions we track.
Low-income graduates earn $83,900 at the ten-year mark, indicating strong outcomes across economic backgrounds and supporting the institution's mobility outcomes. The substantial earnings range from $73,294 to $136,204 reflects differences in program choice and career trajectory, with engineering and computer science disciplines driving much of the upper-quartile performance.
Approximately 24.7% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
Artificial Intelligence.
706 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
187 graduates
Industrial Engineering.
395 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
197 graduates
Chemical Engineering, Other.
193 graduates
Georgia Tech offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data, concentrated heavily in engineering and technology disciplines. Artificial Intelligence ranks #7 nationally and #1 in Georgia, graduating 706 students with median earnings of $127,253 and an exceptional value score of 97.0.
Industrial Engineering achieves remarkable performance at #2 nationally and #1 in Georgia, with 395 graduates earning $101,070 and a value score of 98.6. Mechanical Engineering ranks #29 nationally and #1 in Georgia, representing the largest traditional engineering program with 572 graduates earning $87,372.
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering ranks #6 nationally, producing 246 graduates with median earnings of $89,405. Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Chemical Engineering all rank #1 in Georgia within their respective disciplines, demonstrating the institution's dominance in technical education statewide.
Business Administration rounds out the major programs with 339 graduates earning $78,313, ranking #46 nationally but #2 in Georgia.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (56.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IN | 73% | $101,253 | Compare |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Higher acceptance rate (42 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 58% | $102,051 | Compare |
Johns Hopkins University Same region (earnings difference: 14.8%) and similar program focus | MD | 8% | $87,555 | Compare |
Duke University Same region with nearly identical earnings | NC | 7% | $97,800 | Compare |
Emory University Similar admission rate (5.4 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (60 point difference); located 4 miles away | GA | 11% | $80,137 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuny Queens College Similar quality tier (#55 ranked) | NY | 69% | $62,763 | #55 | Compare |
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This is the Georgia Institute Of Technology-Main Campus hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus/analysis.
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