Campus News

Early action applicants bring record academic credentials to UGA

Nearly 15,000 students applied for early action admission to the University of Georgia’s Class of 2022, bringing record academic qualifications to the birthplace of public higher education.

This year more than 8,000 students are being offered early action admission to UGA, and their average GPA of 4.11 reflects their dedication to academic excellence and rigorous coursework such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses. The average ACT score of students being offered admission through early action is 32, which exceeds last year’s record of 31. The average SAT score is 1390, which exceeds last year’s average of 1363. The mid 50th percentile ranges for the ACT and SAT scores of admitted students are 30-32 and 1320-1470, respectively. The average number of AP, IB and dual enrollment courses is nine, with a mid 50th percentile range of seven to 11.

“The academic achievements of these admitted students are remarkable,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “They were selected from our most outstanding pool of applicants for early action ever, attesting to the increasing recognition of the quality and value of a degree from the University of Georgia. We are excited to offer admission to this first group of students in the Class of 2022.”

The number of students who apply for early admission to UGA has increased by more than a third over the past five years, and the number of students who apply through the regular decision process has grown substantially, as well.

Early action applicants are considered for admission based solely on their grades, the rigor of their high school curriculum relative to what is available at their school and the results of their SAT or ACT scores. Regular decision applications, which are due no later than Jan. 8, are reviewed holistically, with the core academic qualifications supplemented by factors such as a student’s intellectual and creative pursuits, community involvement and leadership, and recommendations from counselors and teachers.

Students who apply through early action admission but are deferred have their applications reviewed with the regular decision applicant pool, and decisions are typically announced in mid-March.

“If a student was deferred, they still have a chance to be a part of the incoming first-year class,” said Patrick Winter, associate vice president for undergraduate admissions and enrollment management. “Deferred is not the same thing as being denied. It means that we are still considering their application in the holistic review. This gives us a chance to learn more about their involvement and activities beyond the classroom.”

The demand for a UGA education has risen dramatically in recent years in tandem with academic enhancements that include the launch of the university’s campus-wide experiential learning initiative and a small class size initiative. Earlier this year, the university launched its Double Dawgs linked-degree program, which gives students more than 100 opportunities to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years or less. UGA recently moved up to 16th among public universities in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking-its highest U.S. News ranking yet-and Kiplinger ranks UGA among the nation’s top 10 values in public higher education.

For more information on admissions at UGA, see https://www.admissions.uga.edu/.