The number of students who chose �����Ƶ for the Fall 2025 Semester continues to soar, according to .

The University’s official Fall 2025 total enrollment is a record-breaking 29,633, a 7.73% increase over Fall 2024, and the University’s highest enrollment in its history. Of the University’s 29,633 students, 85% are from the state of Georgia. The new beginning freshman class is also a record at 5,946 students, a jump of 17.67% from the previous year, making it the largest freshman class in the University’s history.

“This record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our outstanding faculty and staff, our commitment to student success, and the value of a Georgia Southern degree in preparing students for meaningful lives and careers,” said �����Ƶ President Kyle Marrero. “These numbers tell a powerful story — students choose Georgia Southern because of the exceptional experiences, support and sense of community they find here.”

Additional enrollment records set in Fall 2025 include:

• The total number of new graduate and undergraduate students who enrolled at Georgia Southern is 9,628, an increase of 12.98% from last fall.
• The total number of dual-enrolled students, who are both new and returning to the University, is 1,808, a 16.65% climb from Fall 2024. Of that number, 1,097 are dual enrollment students new to the University.
• Graduate student enrollment grew to 4,038 students, a gain of 3.86% year over year.
  • Master’s program enrollment is 2,916 students.
  • Specialist program enrollment rose 21.67% over Fall 2024 to 365 students.
  • Doctoral program enrollment grew to 757, an increase of 7.38% over last year.

“This record enrollment underscores the confidence students and families have in Georgia Southern and reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting students from enrollment to graduation. It affirms the strength of our brand, the excellence of our academic programs, and our student-centered approach,” said Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Student Success Alejandra C. Sosa Pieroni, Ed.D. “We remain committed to expanding access and developing the talent that drives the economic vitality and future of our region.”  

Enrollment within the University’s Honors College continues to rise as 923 students joined the supportive community of high achievers, where they will perform advanced research, access a broad range of experiential opportunities and receive personalized guidance. This growth represents an expansion of 18.33% over the previous year.

Georgia Southern’s student retention rate climbed to 82%, an upswing of 4% over Fall 2024. The University was awarded the Chancellor’s Cup Trophy for the highest percentage retention increase of all comprehensive institutions within the USG during the Board of Regents meeting on Nov. 11.

Georgia Southern also contributed to the University System of Georgia’s (USG) record-setting degrees awarded, . The University set a record for graduate degrees conferred as 1,622 students received a doctorate, master’s or specialist degree FY25, an uptick of 16.02% over FY24.

�����Ƶ will continue the temporary waiver of test score admission requirements for undergraduates for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025), following approval of the extension by the University System of Georgia last week.

For Academic Year 2024-2025, that means Georgia Southern has two options when making undergraduate admission decisions:

1. First-year students applying to �����Ƶ through the summer 2025 semester can be admitted without an ACT or SAT score, if they have a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher on the 17 required high school courses.
2. Students who have a high school GPA of less than 3.2 on the 17 required high school courses must submit official ACT or SAT scores along with their high school transcript to be considered for admission.

In addition, test optional admission will now be extended to Dual Enrollment students starting fall 2023 term, and extending through the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025).

Test scores will continue to be required to apply for Zell Miller scholarships in accordance with State of Georgia requirements.

“This is great news for Georgia’s students,” said Amy Ballagh, PhD., vice president for enrollment management. “It makes the admissions process easier for students and their families and allows us to provide quicker decisions to the thousands of students who are interested in Georgia Southern.”

In an ongoing effort to support student success and expedite the application process, first-year students applying to �����Ƶ for the fall 2022 semester can now be admitted without an ACT or SAT score if they have a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher. 

Students who have a GPA of less than 3.2 should submit official ACT or SAT scores to be considered for admission.

Applicants who have previously applied for admission for the fall 2022 semester will be reevaluated according to the new admission criteria.

“Georgia Southern continues to attract, retain and graduate the best students in Georgia, and this move by the University System of Georgia will allow many students who have been impacted by the pandemic an opportunity to continue their education and become Eagles in the fall,” said Scot Lingrell, Georgia Southern vice president for enrollment management.

The University System of Georgia authorized this change to Georgia Southern’s admission requirements. First-year students must meet all other admission requirements, including satisfactory completion of the Required High School Curriculum and all other requested documentation.

To learn more about admission requirements for dual-enrolled, transfer and other undergraduate student types, visit .

Georgia Southern admission counselors remain available to assist applicants and prospective students via phone and email. Visit .

First-year students applying to �����Ƶ for the summer and fall 2020 semesters can be admitted without an ACT or SAT score, if they have a sufficiently high GPA.

This is yet another way Georgia Southern is adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prompted the College Board and ACT to suspend all upcoming ACT and SAT testing dates.

The University System of Georgia authorized this change. Prospective first-year students must meet all other admission requirements, including satisfactory completion of the Required High School Curriculum and all other requested documentation.

Georgia Southern enrollment counselors remain available to assist applicants and prospective students via phone and email. Visit: 

�����Ƶ, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

Georgia Southern will host its 11th annual Southern Scholars  Showcase on December 4-5, bringing more than 140 of the brightest high school seniors from Georgia, across the nation and the world to our campus to interview for valuable and prestigious academic scholarships.  To be invited to this interview event, students must have outstanding test scores and high school grade point averages. They are among the very best in their respective high schools. Last year the average test scores for attendees were 1349 SAT (Math and Critical Reading only) and 30 composite ACT. In addition to interviewing for scholarships, students and their parents will have the opportunity to attend a variety of informative sessions about the University ranging from topics on engineering to study abroad. Southern Scholars Showcase is just the first chance for prospective Georgia Southern students to earn merit-based, academic scholarships.  On February 26-27, 2016, Scholars’ Day will bring an additional 270 students to campus. To qualify for an invitation to this event, a student must earn at least a 1200 on the SAT (Math and Critical Reading only) or 27 composite on the ACT and demonstrate high academic ability within the classroom.  Students who are selected as finalists will receive an invitation for Scholars’ Day and have the chance to interview for scholarships. For more information, or to apply for scholarships or the University Honors Program, please visit . For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 912-478-5391���ǰ���scholarships@georgiasouthern.edu.