Georgia

College Admission Requirements

Georgia students need to know three things as they begin their college application process:

1. Your Hope GPA from 17 core courses 2. Your SAT or ACT scores 3. Your Freshman Index

HS Curriculum & GPA

4 units of English4 units of mathematics4 units of science3 units of social science2 units of the same foreign language, or 2 units of American Sign Language, or 2 units of computer science

The USG’s Staying on Course document has a full list of courses.

More info on how the 17 course GPA is calculated.

SAT & ACT Score

Requirements for University of Georgia System & Technical College of Georgia System

University of Georgia System Freshman Admission Requirements (SAT, ACT, Freshman Index, & GPA)

Old & New SAT concordance tables

Freshman Index

Freshman Index is a formula that GA Public universities use to set a minimum acceptance standards.

The Formula multiplies your GPA & SAT or ACT score into a single number.

SAT Formula: 500 x (HSGPA) + old SAT CR section score+ old SAT Math section score
ACT Formula:500 x (HSGPA) + (ACT Composite x 42) + 88

*Keep in mind, just because you meet the Freshman Index does not guarantee admission to more selective universities!

Check your Freshman Index and the average GPA & Test Scores for all GA Public Universities!

GA Freshman Index & Admission Averages

Applying to College

Students in GA have four options to apply to college: the Common or Coalition Applications, GA Futures, or applications on individual college websites.

Recommended Deadlines

Oct 15- Apply Early Action to UGA & GT, & Mercer

Oct 26- Apply Early Action to Kennesaw State

Nov 1- Apply Early Decision to Emory;

Nov 1 - Priority Applications to Georgia Southern & Georgia College

Nov 1- Apply Early Action to Berry, Morehouse, Emmanuel, Clark Atlanta

Nov 15- Apply for Merit Scholarships at Emory

Nov 15- Apply EA to GSU, Augusta , & West Georgia

Nov 15- Apply Early Action to Agnes Scott, Spelman, Oglethorpe, Wesleyan, Covenant

Rolling Admissions: As soon as you can, but by Mar 1 or May 1- Apply to all other public & private GA universities

See all deadlines for GA public & private universities

Georgia Deadlines

Remember, it's important to apply by the early deadlines even to your safety universities in order to qualify for maximum scholarships & financial aid!

Valedictorians & Salutatorians gain automatic admission at any public Georgia university (they must still complete the application by the deadlines)!

Fee Waivers

Students who qualify for a SAT/ACT fee waiver can also qualify for a college application fee waiver. These fee waivers are available to download & print (and be signed by your counselor) at your SAT account or from NACAC. For Common or Coalition application schools no printed fee waiver is necessary. Simply check that you qualify for a fee waiver and your counselor will have to confirm it. However for applications via GA Futures or on individual college websites, you will have to either mail, email, or fax the signed fee waiver forms to the university. Check with the university on its fee waiver process.

Creating A College List

1. Read this article on creating a college list for general advice, then dive in to the the data on Georgia colleges & universities.

2. To search for colleges outside of Georgia, see the Search for Colleges section.

Map

Measure where colleges are located and plan your college visit!

Copy of State-Handout_GA

Selectivity chart

See where you can get accepted.

See where you stand on the GA Futures College Readiness Site.

Georgia College Search

Data on Majors & More

Filter to search both public & private colleges by selectivity, location, size diversity, & major!

Univ System of Georgia Degree Search

Applying for Financial Aid & Scholarships

1. Complete the FAFSA

FAFSA website: www.fafsa.gov

See our FAFSA Guide

2. Complete the GA Student Finance Application (GSFAPPS)

GAFutures.org

Good instructions on the UGA website

3. Complete the CSS Profile

These GA universities use the CSS Profile: Georgia Tech, Emory, Berry.

CSS Profile Website: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

Note: As long as the student completes their FAFSA they do not have to also submit the GSFA app. The GA Futures is able to pull their FAFSA submission information automatically in the system and then use the final transcript upload by the counselor in May to determine final eligibility. Around August is when most students will see HOPE show up under their account, while some schools will put it up as early as May if a student came into their senior year pre-eligible for HOPE. A student can ask their counselor now if they are pre-eligible and they can access their own HOPE GPA through GAFutures as long as their SSN and other information is entered correctly in their profile.

Georgia Costs

State Aid Programs (students must complete the FAFSA or the GA Student Finance Application (GSFAPPS))

Grants and Scholarships with separate applications for GA students:

HOPE Scholarship

For GA residents with a min 3.0 HOPE GPA on 17 core classes

(remember, your HOPE GPA is not the same as your overall GPA-- see the College Admission Requirements section above)

Zell Miller Scholarship

For GA residents with a min 3.7 HOPE GPA; min 1200 SAT or 26 ACT; must maintain a min 3.3 college GPA

(remember, your HOPE GPA is not the same as your overall GPA-- see the College Admission Requirements section above)

Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant

For resident students attend a GA private university
Up to $350/semester

Achieve Atlanta Scholarship

$5000 scholarship to Atlanta Public School graduates attending 4-year college ($1500 for community college enrollees)
Graduate with a cumulative, weighted GPA of at least 75 for associate degree or 80 for 4-year college/university
Demonstrate financial need through an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 – $8,000

Georgia Public Safety Grant

For dependent children of public safety officers who have been disabled or killed in the line of duty; must be a legal GA resident; grant covers full cost of attendance, but may not exceed $18,000/year

North Georgia College and State University ROTC Grant

For residents attending North Georgia College; up to $1500/year

REACH Georgia Scholarship Program

For high achieving, low income GA students.

GA HERO Scholarship

Public Safety Memorial Grant

Loans

Most college students take out $5,500 each year in Federal Direct Loans from the U.S. Dept of Education. These low-interest government loans are relatively safe because they are limited in amount. Georgia has its own state loan program that provides even lower interest rates.

Student Access Loan Program (SAL)

Georgia Student Finance Authority (GSFA) offers the Student Access Loan Program (SAL) for eligible students attending an eligible Georgia university. The SAL is a 1 percent fixed rate loan, designed to assist undergraduate and technical college students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs.

Loans for students interested in engineering:

Merit & Institutional Scholarships at Georgia's Top Universities

Georgia Tech

The G. Wayne Clough Georgia Tech Promise Program

GT promises to meet full financial need for Georgia residents whose families make under $33,300 per year.

UGA

Georgia Commitment Scholars

Need-based financial aid & support program.

UGA Merit Scholarships

Students are automatically considered for many, but some require additional applications.

Emory

Emory University Scholars Program

Emory already meets 100% of financial need. However, approx. 30% of its students qualify for additional merit scholarships. Application deadline is Nov 15, even for students applying regular decision.

Oglethorpe University

Flagship 50 Program

Lowers tuition to equal the tuition of your in-state flagship university for students with a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT & a high school GPA of 3.5.

Other merit scholarships

Berry College

Host of scholarship opportunities that students are automatically considered for scholarships

Georgia's Womens Colleges

Georgia State

Full list of scholarships and merit awards

Presidential Scholarship

Our premier academic award given to a select group of exceptional incoming freshmen.

Berner Scholarship and Loan

For incoming freshmen with high grade point averages from rural Georgia.

Goizueta Foundation Leadership Pipeline

For outstanding freshmen of Hispanic/Latino heritage who have demonstrated ongoing leadership and service to their communities.

Achieve Atlanta Scholarship

The Achieve Atlanta scholarship is a need-based award designed to support Atlanta Public School system students.

Important note on scholarships: For low-income students, most of your financial aid will come from need-based financial aid from the university & the Hope/Zell Miller scholarships from the state of Georgia. It's important to apply to colleges that will be affordable for you without any merit scholarships. However, always look on the website of each university for merit scholarship opportunities. Most, you will be automatically considered for, but some require extra applications!

Information for Undocumented/DACA Students

Information for Undocumented and DACA Students

Undocumented students cannot receive in-state tuition
The University System of Georgia does not allow undocumented & DACA students to enroll at any university that did not admit all academically qualified applicants. That means that undocumented & DACA students CANNOT enroll at the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia College and State University.
Undocumented & DACA students CAN enroll at any other public university or technical college. They can enroll, but they would need to pay out-of-state tuition and they are not eligible for any state financial aid such as the Hope or Zell Miller Scholarship.
- Undocumented & DACA students CAN receive institutional aid & scholarships at some of these public colleges & universities.
Undocumented & DACA students CAN apply & receive institutional financial aid from any private university in Georgia.
A unique resource in Georgia is Freedom University, offering free college preparation courses for undocumented students.