Aug. 23, 2010
Contact:
Andrea Jones, 404-413-1351
University Relations
For the first time, Georgia State University is expecting an enrollment of more than 31,000 students this fall. It is a banner fall for Georgia State, which is welcoming one of the largest freshmen classes in the university’s history, and the strongest academically. Classes began Monday, Aug. 23.
For the first time ever, more than 30,000 students applied for admission to Georgia State for the fall semester. There was a record 12,091 applications for the freshman class alone, representing a 45 percent increase from five years ago, according to admissions data.
Entering freshmen will have an average high school GPA of 3.37 (out of 4.0) and an average SAT score of 1105 (out of 1600). Both are all-time highs for the university. The almost 200 freshmen admitted into the university’s growing Honors Program will have an average GPA of 3.84 and an average SAT of 1310.
The freshman class is, by many measures, the most diverse in Georgia and the most representative of the state’s overall population, said Timothy Renick, Associate Provost for Academic Programs.
The percent of freshmen in Georgia State’s freshman class coming from underrepresented groups (African-American and Hispanic) is 39 percent, the same percentage as those graduating from Georgia high schools this year. More than 40 percent of the freshmen are Pell grant eligible, and about 80 percent will enter with HOPE scholarships.
After five years of a 60 percent female and 40 percent male freshman class, this year's class is 54 percent female and 46 percent male—a trend that could be tied to GSU’s addition of football.
The university also set a record for its largest transfer class ever, with over 2,400 new transfer students enrolled. Enrollment figures also show geographic diversity. This fall, Georgia State will enroll students from every county in Georgia, every state in the nation, and 159 different countries.
Renick said the benchmarks reflect GSU’s growing reputation.
“We are seeing a shift. Georgia State is becoming the first choice for growing numbers of highly talented students,” he said. “They are attracted by the reputation of our academic programs and by the excitement and opportunities that come from studying in the heart of downtown Atlanta.”