Georgia Southern admits 89.6% of applicants, meaning roughly 9 out of 10 applicants receive offers of admission. This places Georgia Southern in the Open Access category, indicating broad educational opportunity for students across diverse academic backgrounds. The peer median admission rate of 78.1% shows that Georgia Southern is more accessible than typical four-year institutions, providing 11.5 percentage points higher acceptance rates than comparable schools. This level of accessibility means that most students who meet basic admission requirements can expect to gain entry to the university. For prospective students, Georgia Southern represents a reliable option for higher education access, though students should still demonstrate academic preparation and motivation in their applications. The university's open access mission supports its role as an Opportunity Builder institution, creating pathways for students who might face barriers at more selective universities. Students should view Georgia Southern as a strong foundation choice when building college lists, particularly those seeking comprehensive program options with accessible entry requirements. The high acceptance rate allows students to focus on academic preparation and program fit rather than admission uncertainty.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at Georgia Southern typically score between 980 and 1160 on the SAT, with a median of 1057. The middle 50% range indicates that most enrolled students fall within this band, though students scoring outside this range are certainly admitted. SAT Math scores range from 480 to 570, while SAT Verbal scores span from 500 to 590, showing relatively balanced performance across sections. ACT scores range from 18 to 23, with a median of 21, providing alternative testing pathways for admission consideration. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1198, Georgia Southern students score 141 points lower, reflecting the university's commitment to accessible admission rather than test score optimization. These ranges represent enrolled students, not minimum requirements, meaning students with scores below the 25th percentile can and do gain admission regularly. The academic profile indicates that Georgia Southern evaluates applications holistically, considering factors beyond standardized test performance. Students should consider whether their academic preparation aligns with this range when assessing fit, but those scoring below should not automatically exclude Georgia Southern from consideration. For students whose scores fall within the middle 50% range, they can expect to be academically competitive with current enrolled students and well-prepared for the university's academic environment.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Georgia Southern enrolls a diverse student body that reflects its accessible admission approach and commitment to educational opportunity. The university enrolls 35.5% Pell-eligible students, indicating more than one-third of students come from lower-income families, well above many four-year institutions. First-generation students comprise 25.1% of enrollment, demonstrating the university's role in expanding higher education access to families without previous college experience. Transfer students represent 23.5% of enrollment, showing Georgia Southern's commitment to providing pathways for students beginning their college careers elsewhere. This composition suggests the university prioritizes broad educational access while maintaining academic standards appropriate for degree completion. The substantial Pell and first-generation enrollment indicates that Georgia Southern actively serves students who might face financial or informational barriers at other institutions. Students from lower-income families should know that more than one-third of their peers share similar economic backgrounds, creating supportive community environments. First-generation students should consider the significant representation of peers navigating college as the first in their families, providing natural support networks. Transfer applicants should note the substantial transfer population, indicating institutional experience supporting students transitioning from community colleges or other four-year institutions.
Given Georgia Southern's 89.6% acceptance rate, admission is accessible for most qualified applicants. However, students seeking alternatives may want options with different characteristics or outcomes.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
Georgia Southern students demonstrate solid persistence and completion outcomes, with institutional support systems that promote degree attainment across diverse populations. The university maintains a 77.2% freshman retention rate, compared to a peer median of 83.7%, indicating most students successfully transition from first to second year, though slightly below comparable institutions. Six-year graduation rates reach 52.0%, compared to a peer median of 65.9%, showing that approximately half of entering students complete degrees within the traditional timeframe. Pell-eligible students graduate at 48.6%, creating a 3.4 percentage point gap compared to overall completion rates, indicating some additional challenges for lower-income students but demonstrating that the institution successfully supports economic mobility for nearly half of Pell recipients. The relatively small Pell gap suggests Georgia Southern provides adequate support systems for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, though room for improvement exists. Students should expect an environment where persistence and academic engagement are rewarded with institutional support, though personal responsibility for academic success remains important. Prospective students should view these completion rates as indicators of the academic environment they will encounter, where roughly half of entering students successfully complete degrees. Lower-income students should weigh the 48.6% Pell completion rate when considering Georgia Southern, recognizing both the challenges and the institutional commitment to supporting their success.
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