University of Georgia

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Quick Stats
Terrell Hall

Athens, GA 30602

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Phone: (706) 542-3000
2011-2012 Tuition
$9,472
in-state
$27,682
out-of-state
Students
25,947
enrolled
42%
male /
58%
female
Admissions
Jan. 15
application deadline
59.3%
accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#62 National Universities

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Summary

University of Georgia is a public institution that was founded in 1785. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,947, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 759 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Georgia's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 62. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,472 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $27,682 (2011-12).

At its founding, The University of Georgia made history as the first public, state-supported college in America. These days, the school is known for its vibrant student community. UGA’s college town of Athens was rated among the best sports towns in the country by ESPN, and the competitive Bulldogs sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. There are more than 600 student clubs and organizations, including nearly 60 Greek chapters that involve almost 25 percent of UGA students. Community service is a particularly big focus, with student-run philanthropies such as ugaMiracle, a year-long fundraiser and 24-hour Dance Marathon for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Students also run the University of Georgia Insider, an online forum for advice on everything from “10 Secrets to On-Campus Survival” to “Saving Money the College Student Way.” Students must live on campus, but Atlanta is 60 miles away for those itching for a road trip.

The University of Georgia has renowned graduate programs in its College of Education and Law School. As both a land and sea grant university, UGA is active in research and promotion of agricultural and sea-based programs. One unique offering at UGA is the Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, the first school of its kind when it was launched in 2007. Notable alumni of UGA include U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Food Network personality Alton Brown, and AFLAC CEO Dan Amos.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Established by a charter adopted by the Georgia Legislature in 1785, the University of Georgia is the first university in America to be chartered by a state government. The principles embodied in its charter 'that education is the foundation of a democratic society and a right of all citizens, and that providing education is the responsibility of government' helped give rise to the American system of public higher education. UGA's picturesque 759-acre campus, in the Appalachian foothills about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta, is adorned with many 19th century buildings including Old College, opened in 1806, and the 1832 University Chapel. North Campus, featuring quads with century-old trees and scenic green spaces, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other notable campus features include bike paths, quiet gardens, one of the nation's largest student recreation/fitness centers and one of the oldest cemeteries on an American university campus (dating to 1814). UGA is Georgia's most popular college (17,730 applications for the 2010 freshman class) and has one of the nation's largest and oldest Honors Programs, attracting superior students from across the country. UGA is a national leader among public universities in the number of major scholarships earned by its students. The university has had seven Rhodes Scholars since 1996. In the same period, UGA students have won 37 Goldwater Scholarships and 10 Truman Scholarships. In 2008, UGA was the only public university in America with two Rhodes Scholars. In 2003, UGA scored a "grand slam," being the only public university in America with winners of the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman and Goldwater Scholarships in the same year. The student satisfaction rate is high with 94 percent of freshmen returning as sophomores. Georgia's HOPE Scholarship keeps in-state student costs among the lowest at major public universities, and UGA ranks in the top 10 among research universities in the number of students who study abroad each year. Long a research leader in such fields as agriculture, biology and biotechnology, UGA is rapidly building strength in human and animal health and biomedicine with its College of Public Health, Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute and Cancer Center. A physician education program developed jointly by UGA and Georgia Health Sciences University began in 2010 and will help offset a severe shortage of doctors in Georgia. A new, 58-acre Health Sciences Campus will house the Medical Partnership, College of Public Health and other health-related programs. The Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, opened in 2007, is the nation's only stand-alone school devoted to ecological studies and research. UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is home to the prestigious Peabody Awards, the world's oldest prize in electronic media. In addition, the Peabody Archives in the UGA Library contain some of the best radio, television and cable programs ever produced. UGA is home of Georgia's official state botanical garden, state art museum and state museum of natural history, as well as the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.

General Information

School type public, coed college
Year founded 1785
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $58,106,571

Applying

When applying to University of Georgia, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early action deadline is October 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at University of Georgia is $60. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 59.3 percent and an early acceptance rate of 70.2 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 59%
Application deadline January 15
SAT/ACT scores must be received by January 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at University of Georgia is 19:1, and the school has 35.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Georgia include: Psychology, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Finance, General; Marketing/Marketing Management, General; and Business Administration and Management, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93.5 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 19:1
4-year graduation rate 54% - Medium
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Psychology, General 6%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 5%
Finance, General 5%
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 4%
Business Administration and Management, General 3%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

University of Georgia has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,947, with a gender distribution of 42.2 percent male students and 57.8 percent female students. 28.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 72.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Georgia is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at University of Georgia.

Total enrollment 34,677
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

University of Georgia offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Georgia also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Georgia, 42 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Georgia.

Students who have cars on campus 42% - Low
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

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Paying for School

At University of Georgia, 38.0 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $8,970.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

In-state tuition and fees $9,472 (2011-12)
Out-of-state tuition and fees $27,682 (2011-12)
Room and board $8,708 (2011-12) - Medium
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

Deciding to come to the University of Georgia has been the best decision of my life thus far - I've never met ANYONE who dislikes the school when they visit. The spirit and energy of all the students is something to be envied, especially come football season. There is nothing like a football saturday in the SEC! While every school has its problems, dissenting opinions between administration, Athens community, and the student body being one here, it is impossible to say that the negatives outweigh the positives. UGA manages to be a challenging school while simultaneously letting its students really experience college outside the classroom. You will never have a day with nothing to do, whether you be lounging on North Campus, shopping downtown, or running up and down Milledge. It's hard to even say what my favorite part about the University is - when you love something so much, words never seem good enough!

Sara Junior

Football is HUGE here, Saturdays are devoted to football in the fall. Academics are strict here as well, there's an entrance exam to get into the business school rather than just having a minimum gpa. The Meal Plan is great. It's won numerous awards and offers an extensive variety from salads to philly cheese steaks. School size is just right. Probably the biggest school in Georgia, and doesn't feel too large. Going to UGA is something to brag about definitely. You have high academic AND social standards. Most of your time on campus will probably be spent in the middle of the campus near the Tate student Center or Student Learning Center. Those are some new buildings where some of the general classes are being taught at. There is a LOT of school pride here and it feels great to let it all out on football weekends. Best College Town in the US. It was actually ranked by a well known magazine as #3, but I believe it is unmatched.

Anil Junior

UGA is a huge school with a small campus feel to it. While there are endless possibilities to meet new people, just walking around campus you begin to notice that you know more people at UGA than you might have realized. It's pretty easy to run into someone you know, yet if you don't want to see those people, they can easily be avoided on the huge campus. If I had to change anything, I would make more buses available on campus. When you wait at a bus stop with time to spare, and you're still late for your class because the buses are running late, that is a major problem. SGA is currently working on improving the bus system. Being from Atlanta, a lot of people are not surprised that I go to UGA. There is a huge percentage of students from the Metro Atlanta area. Most of my time is spent on South Campus, the science major's home. North Campus is arts & social sciences. Athens is absolutely a college town. I would venture a guess that the population of Athens-Clarke county is about 75% UGA students, or at least it feels that way. UGA's administration could stand for some improvement but they do have their strengths. The biggest recent controvery would have to be the sexual harassment issue that has been all over the Red & Black, UGA's newspaper. It's a big deal to hear that a professor who has been here for 20 years is being charged with sexual harassment of students, including girls he was an academic advisor to. In terms of school pride, it's not called the BULLDAWG NATION for nothing. I will never forget the 2007 football game against Auburn, The Blackout, that was by far the best football game I've ever been to.

Erin Sophomore

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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