Georgia State University College Portrait
Georgia State University33 Gilmer Street Atlanta, GA 30302
404-413-2500
Georgia State University
Mission Statement
As the only urban research university in Georgia, Georgia State University offers educational opportunities for traditional and nontraditional students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels by blending the best of theoretical and applied inquiry, scholarly and professional pursuits, and scientific and artistic expression.
As an urban research university with strong disciplinary-based departments and a wide array of problem-oriented interdisciplinary programs, the goal of the university is to develop, transmit, and utilize knowledge in order to provide access to quality education for diverse groups of students, to educate leaders for the State of Georgia and the nation, and to prepare citizens for lifelong learning in a global society.
Living in the Panthers Community
Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, Georgia State is one of the country's leading urban research universities. Our student body is the best qualified and most diverse in our history. More than 40,000 students are seeking degrees at Georgia State, and more than 28,000 of them are on campus each semester. Students come to our campus from every county in Georgia, every state in the nation and 160 countries.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 31,538 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 23,486 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 14,006 | 60% |
| Men | 9,480 | 40% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 56 | <1% |
| Asian | 2,616 | 11% |
| African American / Black | 8,508 | 36% |
| Hispanic | 1,737 | 7% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 75 | <1% |
| White | 8,888 | 38% |
| Two or More Races | 784 | 3% |
| International | 469 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 353 | 2% |
| Where do GSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| GEORGIA | 84% |
| Other US States & Territories | 6% |
| Other Countries | 10% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are GSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 24 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 24% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 21 - 26 | |
| Math | 20 - 26 | 500 - 600 |
| English | 21 - 26 | |
| Critical Reading | 500 - 590 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top of graduating class Data Not Available | ||
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.36 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,398
Tuition is set by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in April. Tuition for the following academic year is typically available for release in May.
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Georgia State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 50% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $3,520. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 45% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $3,743. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
GSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 20 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 44% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 84% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 1,127 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 47% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 24% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 87% |
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Campus-based Housing
58% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
14% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The Georgia State University Police Department is a nationally accredited agency which enforces city, state and federal laws on the Georgia State campus, provides safety services and conducts programs to inform students, faculty and staff about safety and security measures. The department adheres to a philosophy of community oriented policing.The police department is composed of trained officers who are certified by the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council, full time and part time (student assistants) security officers, communications officers and supporting staff. University police officers patrol the Georgia State campus and the surrounding area 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The department also maintains a police substation at the University Commons. Officers are able to respond promptly to all incidents.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral (no medical/veterinary)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at GSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 92% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 46% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 13% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 74% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 13% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 37% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 47% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 10% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 93% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 92% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 55% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 52% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 39% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 70% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 93% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 67% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 68% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 87% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 64% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 76% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 81% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 70% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Georgia State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,890 |
| Master's | 1,997 |
| Doctoral | 212 |
| Total | 6,099 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 7% |
| Business Administration and Management, General | 6% |
| Finance, General | 6% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 6% |
| Sociology | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at Georgia State University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of Spring 2010 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 86% four-year success and progress rate means that 86% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,250 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,202 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 84%
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Student Learning at Georgia State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Georgia State University is a major research university which embraces an emphasis on student learning and assessment from the time students enter the university through graduation. For at least the past 7 years, conversations about the depth and breadth of general education knowledge and skills that define the GSU graduate have been on-going. Systematic assessment of our general education student learning outcomes have become part of the culture for each academic department. Specifically, GSU’s faculty driven Critical Thinking through Writing initiative involves every undergraduate degree program across the university. More information can be found at http://www.gsu.edu/ctw. In addition, Georgia State University also participates in academic program review, professional accreditations, licensure pass rates, and other programmatic measures of assessment.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Georgia State University began administering The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Data will be available next academic year.