Georgia vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Virginia admits 16.8%, Georgia admits 37.9%.
The tuition gap is $31,245 a year: $31,678 (Georgia) against $62,923.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Virginia: $87K against $69K.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Virginia: a midpoint of 1470 against 1300, a difference of 170 points.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 37.92% acceptance). Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #201-300). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $62,923 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Georgia for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Virginia for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Virginia is more selective (16.81% vs 37.92% acceptance); Virginia has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1300).
Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $69K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 89.7%).
Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $62,923); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $15,348).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Georgia | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 37.92% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 38.3% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1300 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.15 | - |
| Number of applications | 42,436 | 58,951 |
| International students | 1.1% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $69K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $45K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $102K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 89.7% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 94.3% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $31,678 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,348 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 73.2% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,890 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $70 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 43,146 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Georgia or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Virginia. Georgia accepts 37.92% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Georgia or Virginia graduates earn more?
Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $69K.
How much is tuition at Georgia vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $31,678 per year at Georgia and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Georgia or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1300 at Georgia and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Georgia or Virginia?
Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Georgia vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Georgia or Virginia?
The average aid package is $15,348 at Georgia and $37,123 at Virginia.
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