USG Enrollment Surges to Record High, Marking Third Year of Growth

Atlanta - November 12, 2025

University System of Georgia (USG) enrollment climbed this fall to an all-time record of 382,142 students. The 4.8% increase in enrollment over Fall 2024 marks a third consecutive year of growth for the system.

Enrollment grew at 23 of USG's 26 public colleges and universities, according to USG's Fall 2025 Semester Enrollment Report, with the total number of students at USG institutions across Georgia rising by 17,417 over the previous year. Most of that increase (13,883 students) came from in-state students, with a 4.8% rise in the number of Georgians seeking a USG education.

"Across the state, we're not just enrolling students but we're preparing them for the real-world demands of a fast-changing workforce," USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. "Thanks to the hard work of our presidents, faculty and staff, we're helping more students enter college, stay on track and get to graduation. Coupled with a record number of degrees awarded this past year, we're contributing to the virtuous cycle of a more educated workforce and more prosperous Georgia."

The Fall 2025 headcount increased across all four sectors of institutions within the system, with comprehensive universities experiencing the largest increase in the number of students (7,465) and percentage growth (7.5%).

Kennesaw State University led the system in overall headcount growth, adding 3,530 students this fall. The University of West Georgia posted the highest percentage increase at 11.7%. Georgia Highlands College and Fort Valley State University followed closely, with growth rates of 9.5% and 9.4%, respectively. Georgia Tech remains the largest institution in the system, enrolling 56,715 students - a 6.3% increase over last fall.

Enrollment rose across both undergraduate and graduate levels at USG institutions this fall. Undergraduate enrollment increased by 11,423 students (4.1%) compared to 2024, while graduate and professional programs added 5,832 students (a 7.2% jump). Of those, 4,823 were master's students - an 8.4% increase - with more than half enrolled at Georgia Tech. The fastest-growing category in terms of percent was education specialists, which saw a 12.4% rise.

Fall 2025 marked the third consecutive year of growth in beginning freshman enrollment across USG institutions, with a 3.6% increase that resulted in 1,968 more students than the previous year. Dual enrollment also hit a new high, reaching 24,280 students - a 15% jump from Fall 2024. Since Fall 2021, dual enrollment has surged 70.3%, adding 10,022 students. The growth follows a 2023 change in admissions test requirements that expanded eligibility, allowing students to enroll in dual credit courses if they had qualifying scores in specific subject areas. Previously, a low score in any section could block participation entirely.

Demographic numbers continue to show an increasingly varied student population. The number of students identifying as Asian increased by 2,631 students (5.2%), and those identifying as Latino grew by 3,841 students (8.9%). There was an 8.1% in Black students (7,533), while the number of white students increased by 2,648 students (1.7%).

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, as well as in-state, out-of-state and out-of-country students.

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