State Profile: Georgia

Georgia on Their Minds:
Georgia experiences rapid growth in international students

Georgia, one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., offers an incredible array of educational, professional, and cultural opportunities for college students. The University System of Georgia (USG) is composed of 34 colleges and universities, each offering a variety of opportunities and experiences. In fact, Georgia has one of the largest public university systems in the country, including two-year colleges, state colleges and universities, regional universities, and major research universities. With all of these choices, it is easy to find the undergraduate or graduate program that meets international students' needs. The University System also is home to two of the top 20 public research institutions in the entire country (University of Georgia and Georgia Institute of Technology), as well as many private colleges. Georgia clearly has a lot to offer to international students.

More than 15,890 international students enrolled in University System of Georgia institutions in the fall of 2002, representing an increase of more than 40% from just five years earlier. The international student body accounts for nearly seven percent of the more than 233,000 University System of Georgia students. International student enrollment is especially strong at Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Perimeter College, Kennesaw State University, and Southern Polytechnic State University.

These and other USG institutions are home to students from more than 180 countries, ranging from Argentina to Zimbabwe. More students come from India, China and South Korea than any other countries. We also host large numbers of students from Nigeria, Vietnam, Japan, Kenya, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

What Do They Study?
The University System of Georgia offers a wide range of first-rate academic programs leading to associate, baccalaureate, masters, professional, and doctorate degrees. Programs of study are available in virtually any field, including specializations in engineering, agriculture, technology, business administration, law, medicine, and the health sciences. Many institutions also offer special courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) and provide special support services for international students.

Why Study in Georgia?
There are many reasons why so many international students choose to pursue their higher education in Georgia. Georgia offers a lower cost of living than that found in other regions of the U.S., which means that students' housing and living costs are dramatically lower than in other states. Tuition in the University System is quite reasonable relative to many other public institutions, making our high quality higher education options an even better deal. And qualified international students may be eligible for partial tuition waivers or other financial assistance at some institutions.

Georgia has four distinct seasons, from mild winters to beautiful springtime, balmy summers and crisp autumns. Our geographic riches are abundant, with mountains for hiking and exploring, as well as the ocean and lakes for swimming and sunbathing. Savannah — Georgia's first city — is one of the most scenic and historic cities in the southeast and serves as home to two University System of Georgia institutions. Athens, home of the University of Georgia, is a classic college town known for its alternative music scene (the B-52s and REM hail from Athens).

Georgia ranks fifth nationally in the number of public-supported higher education institutions and ninth nationally in the number of higher education institutions. In addition to the University System, Georgia also supports a public system of technical colleges and institutes. And, there are forty-six private institutions in Georgia, including Emory University.

Georgia's capital city of Atlanta is the transportation, commerce, retail, and cultural hub of the entire southeast. Atlanta is home to many of America's biggest and most well-respected companies, from international news powerhouse CNN to Coca-Cola, from international shipping giant UPS to Delta Airlines. With this corporate presence, internships and job opportunities can be plentiful. Hartsfield International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, making international travel to, and from, other countries far easier than in other states. In addition, cultural and entertainment opportunities abound, from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to baseball champions the Atlanta Braves.

As host of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Atlanta gained an international reputation as a great city that is friendly to all cultures. For decades, Atlanta has been referred to as "the city too busy to hate", reflecting a relentlessly positive attitude toward diversity. Atlanta is home to The King Center, the memorial to civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Atlanta also has the largest African-American middle class population in the country.

Educationally, Atlanta is a nucleus of collegiate activity, including public and private institutions. Three University System institutions in metro Atlanta are especially noteworthy. Georgia State University is a truly urban university and a vital part of downtown Atlanta. Southern Polytechnic Institute is ranked sixth in the nation for graduating African-American engineering technology majors. And the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) ranks as the ninth best public university in the country.

With its outstanding universities, low cost of living, civic and cultural attractions, easy transportation, and great climate, it's no wonder that more and more international students are choosing to study in Georgia each year.