Fifteen years ago, becoming a University of Georgia Bulldog was a pretty routine venture. The average successful applicant had a GPA of 3.6 and an SAT score of right around 1200—more than 75% of those who applied were welcomed to Athens. However, in 2024, the average UGA admit possessed SATs within a mid-50% range of 1280-1470 and a GPA above 4.0. Only “A” students need apply and they better bring standardized test scores at or above the 90th percentile as well. As such, it’s no wonder the UGA acceptance rate has been on the decline. This prestigious flagship university remains a genuine bargain, with tuition & fees alone costing just over $12,000 in 2024-25. A picturesque college town, big-time athletics, and a thriving Greek life attract many high-achieving teens, as do the top-notch academics at this widely-respected public institution.
Given the rising selectivity of UGA, the intent of this article is to give those considering applying to the university an understanding ofthe following topics:
- UGA’s Class of 2028 acceptance rate
- SAT, GPA, and number of advanced courses among accepted UGA applicants
- Admissions trends from the Class of 2028
- UGA’s system for rating applicants
- A look at the demographics of current UGA undergraduates
- The percent of accepted students that attend UGA (yield rate)
- Tips for applying to UGA
- Advice for the UGA supplemental essay
- How to assess whether applying to UGA is even worth the $70 application fee (for you)
Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.
UGA Acceptance Rate – Class of 2028
There were roughly 43,000 applicants and 15,900 acceptances in the most recent admissions cycle. This would work out to a 37% acceptance rate. It is important to note that it is far more difficult to gain acceptance into this university if you are not a Georgia resident. For the Class of 2027, the breakdown was:
- UGA In-State Acceptance Rate: 50%
- UGA Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 28%
Historical overall University of Georgia acceptance rates are as follows:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2027 | 43,416 | 16,148 | 37% |
| Class of 2026 | 39,354 | 16,730 | 43% |
| Class of 2025 | 39,090 | 15,689 | 40% |
UGA Early Action Acceptance Rate
For the 2023-24 application cycle, UGA received nearly 4% more early action applications than the previous year—26,760 total. Although they have not released an official early action acceptance rate, we can estimate that it is approximately 34%, similar to that oof the regular decision cycle.
Note that this is the overall acceptance rate. Similar to the regular cycle, the true acceptance rate will depend on state residency.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Georgia?
Among students who were admitted into the Class of 2028, the average GPA was a whopping 4.05-4.33. For the Class of 2027, the average GPA was 4.14, and 82% of students had a GPA of 4.0 or above.
In regard to course rigor, the average first-year student took between 8-13 AP, IB, or dual enrollment classes.
What class rank do you need to get accepted to UGA?
While class rank data for the Class of 2028 is not yet available, it’s likely not far off from the Class of 2027. That year, 62% of enrolled students were in the top tenth of their graduating class. Moreover, 91% fell in the top quarter, and 99% in the top half. Finally, less than 1% of admitted students were in the bottom half.
University of Georgia (UGA) Acceptance Rate — Continued
What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for UGA?
According to Class of 2028 data, the mid-50% SAT range for accepted freshmen was 1280-1470, while the ACT range was 29-34.
Admissions Trends & Notes – Class of 2028
- Early action applications were up 3.5% this year.
- Overall, applications from in-state students rose by 7%.
- The class is comprised of approximately 80% Georgia residents and 20% out-of-state students.
- Students were admitted from 148 of 159 Georgia counties.
- Additionally, first-generation students make up nearly 22% of the Class of 2028.
- UGA admitted international students from 41 countries.
- Lastly, for fun—25 admitted students were named Georgia (up from 11 last year).
- Last year, 5% of enrolled freshmen were the valedictorians or salutatorians of their class.
How UGA Rates Applicants
UGA considers only two factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load and GPA. Standardized test scores are the lone “important” factor. Essays, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, first-generation status, and paid and volunteer work are all “considered” by the university.
The UGA admission staff feels that: “Academics come first, with a focus on how you have challenged yourself over your 4 years in HS and how you have done in those classes. While we do look at the SAT/ACT scores, what you do over 3-4 years is much more important than what you do in 3-4 hours on a Saturday morning. In addition, for many applicants we will also look at your extra-curricular activities, essays, recommendations, etc.”
University of Georgia (UGA) Acceptance Rate — Continued
This university also greatly values rigor of courses taken, rating that factor even higher than GPA. They “expect students to take advantage of the most challenging courses offered at their high schools. It is possible that a student with a 4.0 GPA who has avoided the challenging courses offered at their high school may not be admitted while a student with a lower GPA who has attempted the most rigorous courses at their school is offered admission.”
Georgia resident? As noted earlier, you’ll enjoy a sizable edge in the admissions process. According to the director of undergraduate admissions, “UGA is the state’s flagship institution, and our primary focus is on recruiting, admitting and enrolling Georgia residents…Georgia residents have a distinct advantage in our admission process.”
It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because UGA takes great pride in its 19 NCAA Division I sports teams. Fans of college football are already well aware of the stellar athletics on display in Athens.Overall, approximately 680 student-athletes are presently attending the university.
For advice about how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog entitled How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?
Demographics
Let’s look at the demographics of the Class of 2027. Geographically, this cohort was comprised of the greatest numbers of students from the following U.S. states:
- Georgia
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Texas
- New York
- Virginia
- New Jersey
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- California
- Maryland
Among non-residents, competition is stiffest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you hail from a less-populated state like Wyoming or North Dakota, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances at UGA.
University of Georgia (UGA) Acceptance Rate — Continued
Historically, the greatest number of international students come from:
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown was as follows:
- Caucasian/White: 65%
- Asian: 16%
- Hispanic: 7%
- Black or African American: 5%
UGA Acceptance Rate 2024 (Continued)
Looking at the gender breakdown, the school presently enrolls far more women than men:
- Men: 39%
- Women: 60%
Most popular intended majors for first-year students:
- BS Biology
- BS Computer Science
- BS Psychology
- BBA Marketing
- BBA Management
- BBA Finance
- Undecided — Business
- BSME Mechanical Engineering
- BS Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Undecided — Arts and Sciences
Yield Rate
UGA’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted is 38%. This figure is comparable to other powerhouse state universities like the University of Michigan, UVA, and UCLA.
Tips for Applying to UGA
If you plan on joining the 43,000+ UGA hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- UGA does not use interviews as part of its evaluation process. Therefore you will need to find alternative ways to make a personal connection to an admissions officer through your essays and recommendations.
- Legacy does not play any role in the admissions process. They are one of the rare institutions to publicly state that having a parent (or other relative) who attended UGA does not factor into admissions decisions.
- UGA also does not consider “demonstrated interest” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
University of Georgia (UGA) Acceptance Rate — Continued
- Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the lone supplemental essay required by UGA. In the 2024-25 cycle, the prompt is as follows:
The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).
For a detailed look at how to master this essay, visit our blog entitled: UGA Essay Prompt and Tips.
Should I apply to UGA?
Those with SAT/ACT scores within the mid-50% mark for UGA who have earned a place in the top 10% of their high school class are absolutely viable candidates to UGA. If you live in Georgia, your road to acceptance will be less bumpy than if you are an out-of-state or international applicant. Not a resident of the Peach State? You will need to bring higher test scores and superior overall credentials.
UGA Acceptance Rate 2024 – Final Thoughts
All teens applying to a school of UGA’s ilk also need to also have a proper mix of “target” and “safety” schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here.
Ready to start completing your applications? You might find the following blogs helpful:
- Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
- What is Demonstrated Interest?
- Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
- College Fair Advice for High School Students
- How to Complete the Common App Activities List
- Common App Essay Prompts
