The Graduate School at Georgia State University

What The Graduate School at Georgia State University does

The Graduate School at Georgia State University is the central administrative and student-services division of Georgia State University, a public R1 research university founded in 1913 and headquartered in downtown Atlanta. The unit coordinates graduate admissions, funding, professional development, and student support across nine colleges, schools, and institutes, serving a graduate student population of approximately 7,600. It manages 180+ programs — 133 graduate majors and 50 certificates — including 45 fully online programs and 39 accelerated dual undergraduate/graduate pathways, with delivery sites at the main Atlanta campus, the Buckhead Center, the Alpharetta campus, and online.

Its revenue mechanics are built on per-credit-hour tuition (approximately $516/credit hour for Georgia residents, ~$1,442 for non-residents, ~$1,485 for out-of-country residents, and a residency-neutral ~$464/credit hour for some online certificates), plus mandatory university fees, application fees ($50 standard, $100 executive programs, $25 re-entry), graduate assistantship-funded tuition waivers and stipends, federal financial aid flow-through (FAFSA code 001574), and the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Operational technology is built around the SLATE graduate admissions application portal, iCollege (Canvas-based LMS), PAWS student portal, GoSOLAR faculty/student resources, URSA for research administration, and Handshake for assistantship and career placement. State appropriations from the University System of Georgia underpin institutional operations.

The Graduate School recruits prospective students through a direct-to-consumer digital motion — the graduate.gsu.edu program-card explorer, The Edge blog, virtual tours, and email inquiry workflows — supplemented by campus visits, the Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity, and the annual Three-Minute Thesis competition. Top-ranked graduate programs include Healthcare Law (#3), Urban Policy (#3), Public Finance & Budgeting (#5), and Nonprofit Management (#6) per U.S. News & World Report 2025-26, and the school lists major Atlanta employers (CDC, Delta, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Amazon, AT&T, Emory Healthcare, Wellstar, Truist, Home Depot, PwC, EY) among top alumni destinations, with average master's alumni salary of $106,700 and doctoral alumni salary of $122,700.

Name

The Graduate School at Georgia State University

Legal name

Georgia State University

Website

https://graduate.gsu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Graduate School at Georgia State University is the central admissions and student-services division of Georgia State University (an R1 public research university), coordinating 180+ graduate programs across 9 colleges for 7,600 students via its Atlanta, Buckhead, Alpharetta, and online campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graduate Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Graduate & Professional School Preparation (EDALABAI), Graduate & Professional School Admissions Counseling (MBA/MD/JD/MS) (EDANAEAD), Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF)

Keywords

• Graduate education programs
• Master's and doctoral degrees
• Graduate certificates
• Online graduate programs
• Research university

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Graduate Tuition and Fees: Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, with rates varying by residency status. Georgia residents pay approximately $516/credit hour for many programs; non-residents pay approximately $1,442/credit hour; out-of-country residents pay approximately $1,485/credit hour. Online programs for some certificates offer residency-neutral rates at approximately $464/credit hour plus online learning fees. All students pay mandatory university fees. Differential tuition may apply in certain programs.
2. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fees are charged at submission: $50 for standard graduate programs (degree, non-degree, transient), $100 for executive programs (Executive MBA, Executive DBA), and $25 for graduate re-entry applicants.
3. Graduate Assistantships (Stipends & Tuition Waivers): Graduate assistants receive monthly stipends (rate set by hiring department) and full- or partial-tuition waivers as part of their appointments. Assistants work 8–20 hours/week. Assistants with full tuition waivers pay only a $37.50 administration fee plus mandatory university fees. These are funded by departmental budgets and external grants.
4. Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA): Graduate students may access federal student loans (Stafford and Grad PLUS loans) through completion of the FAFSA (code: 001574). Federal loan programs represent a significant revenue offset mechanism for students and a federal flow-through to the institution.
5. Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): Graduate students required to maintain ACA-compliant health insurance are automatically charged for the university's Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) unless they submit an approved waiver demonstrating comparable coverage. SHIP fees represent a recurring charge for enrolled students.
6. University System of Georgia (USG) State Appropriations: As a public university within the University System of Georgia, GSU receives state tax dollar appropriations that subsidize institutional operations, including graduate education, research infrastructure, and student services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Graduate School at Georgia State University coordinates admissions and student support for 180+ graduate degree and certificate programs across nine colleges, schools, and institutes. It recruits prospective students through a program cards explorer and SLATE online application portal, then delivers master's, doctoral, certificate, accelerated dual-degree, and fully online graduate programs on the downtown Atlanta campus, the Buckhead Center, the Alpharetta campus, and online. Enrolled students receive centralized support including the Writing Studio, professional development badging, ESL courses, graduate assistantships with tuition waivers, fellowships advising, and access to research administration through URSA.

Product overview

The Graduate School at Georgia State University is a division within the university that coordinates graduate admissions and provides support services for graduate students. It does not offer a commercial product or SaaS platform—rather, it serves as an administrative and support unit offering graduate degree programs, certificates, and student services across nine colleges and schools. The Graduate School provides access to programs through the SLATE application portal (gradapply.gsu.edu) and supports students through resources such as the Writing Studio, professional development programs, funding assistance, and research opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master's Degree Programs Master of Science, Master of Arts, M.I.S., Master of Business Administration, Master of Actuarial Science, and similar graduate degree programs available across 9 colleges, schools, and institutes on campus and fully online, serving prospective students seeking master's-level credentials for career advancement, industry transition, or specialization.
• Doctoral Degree Programs Ph.D. programs such as Applied Linguistics and Business Administration with Accountancy concentration, serving prospective students pursuing research doctorates and academic or research careers, supported by graduate assistantships, fellowships advising, and URSA research administration.
• Graduate Certificate Programs 50 graduate certificate programs spanning the same nine colleges, schools, and institutes; some are delivered fully online at residency-neutral tuition of approximately $464 per credit hour plus an online learning fee.
• Accelerated Dual Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs 39 accelerated pathways that allow students to fast-track their education by combining undergraduate and graduate coursework, designed for high-achieving undergraduates seeking to accelerate completion of both degrees.
• Fully Online Graduate Programs 45 fully online graduate programs that allow students nationwide and internationally to complete graduate degrees and certificates without relocating, with residency-neutral tuition for select certificates and access to the SLATE application portal and iCollege LMS.
• Graduate Assistantships (GTA, GRA, GAA, GCA) Funded assistantship appointments (8-20 hours/week) that provide graduate students with monthly stipends and full or partial tuition waivers in exchange for teaching, research, administrative, or computing duties; eligible appointees pay only a $37.50 administration fee plus mandatory fees.
• Executive Graduate Programs (Executive MBA and Executive DBA) Executive-format graduate programs for working professionals, including the Executive MBA and Executive DBA, requiring a $100 application fee and designed for senior-level practitioners.
• ESL Program for Graduate Students Academic English as a Second Language program supporting international graduate students with English proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills, directed by the ESL Director and contactable at [email protected] (404-413-5200).
• Professional Development Badging Program Digital badging system delivered through iCollege that tracks graduate student completion of workshops across six core competency areas (Data Literacy & Technology, Career Development, Leadership, Wellness & Resilience, Scholarship, Belonging), enabling students to earn badges to showcase to employers.
• Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Annual conference showcasing graduate student research, scholarship, and creative activity at Georgia State University, with the next edition scheduled for November 18, 2026; provides a platform for graduate researchers to present their work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average salary of GSU master's alumni: $106,700; doctoral alumni: $122,700
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSU holds an institutional membership with the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, providing faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral trainees with access to NCFDD's member resources including workshops, writing groups, webinars, and mentorship programs. This partnership supports the professional development core competency area of GSU's graduate student programming.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Kennesaw State University: Public university within the University System of Georgia serving the Atlanta metro, with growing graduate program offerings. Competes for the same in-state applicant pool in business, education, and select STEM master's programs.
• Georgia Southern University: Public university within the University System of Georgia offering graduate programs across education, business, and select STEM fields. Competes for in-state graduate applicants, particularly in southern Georgia.

Direct peers

• University of Georgia (UGA): Public R1 research university in Georgia offering 170+ graduate programs across colleges. Competes for in-state graduate applicants, faculty, and state appropriations within the same University System of Georgia.
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Public urban research university serving a major Southeastern metro (Charlotte), offering comparable graduate program breadth including business, public policy, education, and health sciences. Comparable urban R1 positioning.
• University of South Florida: Public urban R1 research university with a similarly diverse student body, broad graduate portfolio, and metropolitan employer pipeline (Tampa Bay). Comparable scale, affordability positioning, and Carnegie classification trajectory.
• Clemson University: Public R1 research university in the Southeast with comparable graduate program breadth, public affordability positioning, and applied research emphasis. Competes for out-of-state graduate applicants and online learners.
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech): Public R1 research university in Atlanta offering master's, doctoral, and certificate programs across engineering, computing, business, and sciences. Directly competes for graduate applicants in the Atlanta metro and shares the same state university system.

Broad incumbents

• Emory University: Private R1 research university in Atlanta offering master's, doctoral, and professional programs (including top-ranked public health and law). Overlaps with GSU's Healthcare Law and Atlanta employer pipelines but operates as a private institution with different cost structure.
• Arizona State University Online: Public R1 institution with a nationally leading online graduate program portfolio and residency-neutral pricing. Directly competes with GSU's 45 online graduate programs for national working-professional applicants.

Emerging players

• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): Online-focused institution with broad graduate program catalog and aggressive pricing. Competes with GSU's online certificates and master's programs on price, accessibility, and flexibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-state-university-graduate-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Graduate School at Georgia State University