“We’re a public powerhouse that feels like a startup—come with curiosity and leave ready to engineer the future.” — Georgia Tech admission director, February 2025
Why read this?
You’re a junior who will submit applications in the 2025‑26 cycle.
The Institute’s freshly released 2024‑25 Common Data Set lays bare the newest admit numbers, test ranges, and cost figures. Rather than wade through 30 pages of spreadsheets, use this narrative brief—no tables, no fluff—to benchmark your stats, plan every deadline, and sculpt an application that screams Yellow Jacket.
The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English
- 59 789 first‑year applications poured in last cycle and 8 413 offers went out—an overall admit rate near 14 %.
- Early Action boost. Tech doesn’t do Early Decision, but its two‑tier Early Action plan (EA 1 for Georgia residents, EA 2 for everyone else) admitted closer to 20 %, while the regular round hovered near 11 %.
- High yield. 3 850 freshmen enrolled, a 46 % yield that lets the Institute fill seats without bloating the wait‑list.
- Retention & graduation. First‑year retention sits at 98 % and six‑year graduation at 94 %—among the best in public higher‑ed.
Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class
- Testing optional (for now) but telling.
- 77 % submitted SAT scores; their middle band was 1370 – 1530.
- 35 % submitted ACT scores; middle band landed 30 – 34.
- GPA gravity. Average unweighted GPA: 4.14 (Tech uses weight on a 4.0 base). A jaw‑dropping 87 % ranked in the top tenth of their class.
- Course rigor rules. The admission rubric lists curriculum strength, GPA, rank, essays, recommendations, extracurricular impact, talent, and character as very important. Load senior year with AP Calc BC, calculus‑based physics, and advanced electives that stretch you.
- Techie by nature, diverse by ambition. Engineering majors dominate, but liberal‑arts, business, and computing applicants still rise if they pair quantitative prowess with leadership.
What Georgia Tech Values (and How to Show It)
- Problem‑solver mindset. Show projects—whether an Arduino‑powered greenhouse, a data‑science capstone, or a policy hackathon—that do something.
- Community impact at scale. Found a nonprofit tutoring app? Quantify users. Co‑founded a robotics outreach in rural schools? Share adoption numbers.
- Collaboration & grit. Essays that reflect on iteration, failure, and eventual success mirror Tech’s design‑build‑test culture.
- Fit with Atlanta. Reference the city’s Fortune 500 corridor, BeltLine startups, or civil‑rights history to prove you see campus and city as intertwined.
- Demonstrated interest. Attend an info session, join a virtual Q&A, and interact on the applicant portal—reviewers track engagement.
The Money Question
- Sticker price 2025‑26 (per year).
- Georgia resident: $10 512 tuition + $1 546 fees + ~$13 600 housing & meals ≈ $25 700 all‑in.
- Non‑resident: $32 938 tuition + fees + housing & meals ≈ $48 600 all‑in.
- Need‑based aid reality. Tech packages cover just 53 % of average need; families should expect to shoulder the rest via savings, work‑study, or loans.
- Merit scholarships exist but are selective. Stamps President’s and Gold Scholarship finalists post SAT 1550+ / ACT 35+ plus statewide or national accolades.
- Financial‑aid timeline. Submit the CSS Profile & FAFSA by February 15 2026 for priority review; Georgia residents should add the GAFutures HOPE/Zell application.
- Net Price Calculator. Run it early—especially if you are out‑of‑state—before deciding on Early Action.
Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030
Spring 2025
- Finalize senior schedule: AP Calc BC, AP Physics C or IB HL science, and a humanities AP.
- Register for August SAT/ACT only if hitting ≥ 1470 SAT or ≥ 33 ACT feels achievable.
Summer 2025
- Draft your Common App essay plus the notorious Georgia Tech supplement (“Why Tech and Why This Major”).
- Finish a flagship project: GitHub repo, community initiative, lab research—make it measurable.
Early Fall 2025
- October 15 2025 — Early Action 1 deadline (Georgia residents).
- November 1 2025 — Early Action 2 deadline (non‑residents + Georgia applicants still polishing files).
- Tour campus or attend a Jacket Chat to bank demonstrated interest.
Winter 2026
- January 6 2026 — Regular Decision deadline; last SAT/ACT scores due January 31.
- Scholarship applications for Stamps and Gold close mid‑January.
Spring 2026
- Early Action decisions roll out January 31 2026; Regular decisions by March 31 2026.
- Compare aid packages; appeal if circumstances changed.
- May 1 2026 — Enrollment deposit and housing application due.
Life on the Hill
- 21 : 1 student‑faculty ratio and average class size around 27—lecture‑heavy first year, project studios later.
- Residence life. 93 % of freshmen live on campus in themed halls (Honors, STEM LLCs, gender‑inclusive).
- Global draw. Roughly one‑third of undergrads come from outside Georgia; 10 % carry international passports.
- Traditions that pop. Ramblin’ Wreck parade, midnight Pi Mile run, and the acoustic delight of the Tech Tower whistle after victories.
- Atlanta advantage. Internship pipelines to Delta, Home Depot, and the CDC; weekend outings to BeltLine art walks and Braves games are a breeze on MARTA.
How to Decide If Georgia Tech Fits
- Do you thrive on project‑based learning and late‑night debug sessions?
- Will a large, STEM‑centric public campus energize you more than a small liberal‑arts vibe?
- Can you leverage Atlanta’s tech corridor for co‑ops and research?
- Does the price make sense, especially if you’re out‑of‑state?
If you nodded yes to at least three, Tech warrants serious Early Action consideration.
Quick‑Hit Checklist
- [ ] Target 4.0+ GPA with max rigor.
- [ ] Submit SAT ≥ 1470 or ACT ≥ 33 only if above mid‑range.
- [ ] Finish one standout maker or service project by September.
- [ ] Decide EA vs. RD by October 1.
- [ ] Submit CSS Profile + FAFSA by Feb 15 2026.
- [ ] Reference a Tech tradition (Ramblin’ Wreck, Invention Studio) in your supplement.
- [ ] Budget realistically: $25 K in‑state, $48 K out‑of‑state sticker—then model aid.
Final Word
Georgia Tech fuses world‑class engineering, bustling Atlanta energy, and a cooperative co‑op culture that lets undergrads test‑drive careers long before graduation. Admission is competitive but predictable: maxed‑out coursework, tangible problem‑solving impact, and a supplement that ties you to Tech’s maker ethos. Execute on those elements—and the deadlines—and you could soon be buzzing with the Ramblin’ Wreck.
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