University System of Georgia Enrollment Hits An All-Time Record

Atlanta - November 12, 2024

University System of Georgia (USG) enrollment climbed this fall to an all-time record of 364,725 students. The 5.9% increase over enrollment in Fall 2023 is the second consecutive year of growth for the system and outpaces a 2.9% increase observed nationally.

Enrollment grew at all 26 of USG's public colleges and universities, according to USG's Fall 2024 Semester Enrollment Report, with the total number of students at USG institutions across Georgia rising by 20,333 over the previous year. Most of that increase (13,360 students) came from in-state students, with a 4.9% rise seen in the number of Georgians seeking a USG degree.

"USG is in the business of boosting the state's workforce and contributing to economic development, and that means not just enrolling students but getting them to graduation so they can have a positive impact on both their families and the state," USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. "Right now, our schools are awarding a record number of degrees while also helping more students than ever pursue a higher education. That's a win for them and for Georgia, and I'm grateful to presidents, faculty and staff for the hard work they're doing to help our students succeed."

The Fall 2024 headcount increased across all four sectors of institutions within the system, with research universities up the most by number of students (9,873) and by percentage (6.6%).

The biggest institutional increase by headcount was at the Georgia Institute of Technology (5,402). Enrollment at Georgia Tech this fall has surpassed Georgia State University's, making it USG's largest institution based on the total number of students it enrolls. Across the system, the University of West Georgia saw the largest percentage growth at 12.7%.

Both USG undergraduate and graduate enrollment were up for Fall 2024. Undergrad enrollment grew by 12,213 students (4.6%) from 2023, while graduate/professional enrollment increased by 8,043 students (11.1%). The greatest upturn was at the master's level, with a student increase of 6,967 (13.8%).

Fall 2024 also marked the second consecutive fall for USG institutions in which beginning freshman enrollment increased systemwide, rising by 2.6% (1,349 students). In contrast, first-year student enrollment fell this fall across the nation, despite overall enrollment increases. Compared to Fall 2023, national freshmen enrollment decreased by 5% across all U.S. institutions.

Dual enrollment for USG institutions hit a record in Fall 2024, with a total of 21,109 students. This represents a 39.5% increase (5,980 students) from Fall 2023. The year-over-year increase for USG's dual enrollment outpaces the 7.2% increase in dual enrollment reported nationally. It follows an adjustment in admissions test requirements to allow student participation in dual enrollment in course areas for which they have an admissible admissions test section score. Previously, an inadmissible test section score precluded dual enrollment participation completely.

Demographically, USG's student population continues to become more diverse. An increase in Black students by 5,732 students (6.6%) comes as the numbers of students identifying as Asian increased by 4,620 students (10%) and those identifying as Latino grew by 3,566 students (9.1%). The number of white students increased by 2,537 students (1.7%) for only the second time since 2011, though that category still declined as an overall share of USG's student population due to larger growth in other categories.

Much like public higher education institutions across the nation, USG enrollment had fallen in Fall 2021 and Fall 2022 after seven consecutive years of growth. Previously, between 2013 and 2020, USG saw a steady increase in the number of students attending its institutions, with record-high headcounts each fall between 2015 and 2020.

After dipping -0.2% to 340,638 in Fall 2021, total enrollment for Fall 2022 fell again to 334,459 students before Fall 2023 enrollment rebounded with a 3% annual gain to 344,392 students.

The enrollment numbers were released in USG's annual fall semester enrollment report, which analyzes enrollment data by institution, age, gender, race and ethnicity, in-state, out-of-state and international students. The full report is available here.