Southern California vs Georgia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Southern California: 9.8% against 37.9% (Georgia).
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.2% (Southern California) against 1.1% (Georgia).
Georgia reports no financial aid for international students, while Southern California awards them $25,384 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Southern California lists $89,087 against $49,100 (Georgia), but after average aid what remains is $17,918 against $33,752.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 37.92% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #401-500). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Georgia for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 37.92% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1300).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $69K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 89.7%).
Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $15,348).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 37.92% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 38.3% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1300 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | 4.15 |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 42,436 |
| International students | 13.2% | 1.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $69K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $45K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 89.7% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 94.3% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $31,678 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $15,348 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 73.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $20,890 |
| Application fee | $85 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 43,146 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Georgia?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Georgia accepts 37.92%.
Do Southern California or Georgia graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $69K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Georgia?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $31,678 per year at Georgia.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Georgia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1300 at Georgia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Georgia?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #401-500 for Georgia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Georgia?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $15,348 at Georgia.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern