How to Get Into UGA: Acceptance Rate & Strategies
May 24, 2023
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. In 2023, the average UGA admit possesses SATs within a mid-50% range of 1270-1470 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. 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 2022-23. 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 of the following topics:
- UGA’s Class of 2027 acceptance rate
- SAT, GPA, and number of advanced courses among accepted UGA applicants
- Admissions trends from the Class of 2027
- 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)
Many students applying to UGA may also find the following blogs to be of interest:
How to Get Into:
Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.
UGA Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
There were roughly 43,700 applicants and 15,340 acceptances in the most recent admissions cycle. This would work out to a 35% 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. The breakdown is as follows:
- UGA In-State Acceptance Rate: 48%
- UG Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 26%
Historical overall University of Georgia acceptance rates are as follows:
- Class of 2026: 42%
- 2025: 40%
- 2024: 46%
UGA Admissions – SAT, GPA, and Number of AP/IB Courses
According to the most recent statistics available (Class of 2027), the mid-50% SAT range for admitted freshmen was 1270-1470; the ACT range was 29-34. Test scores were required at UGA in the 2022-23 admissions cycle. The average weighted GPA was higher than a 4.0. (4.19). The middle-50% for the number of AP/IB/dual enrollment courses taken by admitted first-year students was 8-13. The average number of advanced courses was 10+.
Admissions Trends & Notes – Class of 2027
- 1,000+ admitted freshmen were either the valedictorian or salutatorian of their high school class.
- Students were admitted from 146 counties.
- Additionally, there were 1,902 first-generation students admitted to the Class of 2027.
- UGA admitted international students from 42 countries.
- Lastly, for fun–11 admitted students were named Georgia.
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 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.”
It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because UGA takes great pride in their 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 2026. Geographically, this cohort was comprised of the greatest numbers of students from the following U.S. states:
- Georgia
- Texas
- New York
- New Jersey
- Tennessee
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Florida
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
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 Acceptance Rate (Continued)
The greatest number of international students come from:
- China
- India
- Korea
- Netherlands
- Canada
- Japan
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown was as follows:
- Caucasian/White: 68%
- Asian: 11%
- Hispanic: 7%
- African American: 7%
UGA Acceptance Rate 2023 (Continued)
Looking at the gender breakdown, the school presently enrolls far more women than men:
- Men: 42%
- Women: 58%
Most popular intended majors for first-year students:
- BS Biology
- BS Psychology
- Finance
- BBA Marketing
- BBA Management
- BS Computer Science
- Undecided- Business
- Undecided-Arts & Sciences
- BSED Exercise & Sports Science
“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 37%. 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 their 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 Acceptance Rate (Continued)
- Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the lone supplemental essay required by UGA. In the 2022-23 cycle, the prompt is as follows:
The shorter essay prompt will be the following – “The college admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.”
For a detailed look at how to master this essay, visit our blog entitled: UGA Essay Prompt and Tips.
UGA Acceptance Rate 2023 – Final Thoughts
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. You will likely need to bring higher test scores and superior overall credentials if you are not a resident of the Peach State. 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.
