The University of Georgia is the state's flagship public research university, in the college town of Athens, an hour from Atlanta. It is best known for business, journalism, agriculture, veterinary medicine and public administration, and was the first state-chartered university in the US. Choose it for a highly ranked public degree with Atlanta's job market nearby.
Athens, United States
Official website: uga.edu
#601
Top 20 (U.S. News)
1785 — the first state-chartered university in the US
Top 25 US undergraduate business school (U.S. News)
$26,000 – $34,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on uga.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Business Analytics (Terry)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (Terry College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Artificial Intelligence
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Master of Public Administration
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BBA Finance
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
The first state-chartered university in the US, founded in 1785.
Grady College — one of the top journalism and mass communication schools in the US.
Public administration — a top-5 US programme.
Athens — a famous college town and music scene, home of R.E.M. and the B-52s.
Graduates join Deloitte, Home Depot, Delta, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Atlanta's consulting and finance firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Terry business analytics graduates report placement rates above 90% within three months.
Journalism alumni work at CNN, Turner and media companies across Atlanta and the US.
Undergrad
1 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus stretches from the historic North Campus beside downtown Athens to the science and business buildings to the south, with a free bus network linking them.
Athens is a lively college town of about 130,000 people known for its music scene, with moderate rent and a mild climate. Atlanta is about 70 minutes away by car.
Form I-20 issued by the University of Georgia
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Action closes 15 October 2026 and Regular Decision closes 1 January 2027. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most computer science and business master's closing between December and March for fall.
Undergraduates start in the fall (August). Some computer science and AI master's programmes also admit for spring (January), while Terry's business master's and the MBA are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. Immigration Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, business analytics, the Terry MBA, artificial intelligence and public administration attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is selective, with an acceptance rate around 40%.
Georgia offers limited merit scholarships to international undergraduates, considered automatically if you apply by the Early Action deadline; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which waive tuition in many departments.
