Message from the President
Strategic Plan: BluePrint to 2033 –Our Place, Our Time
Robust Enrollment, Enhanced Student Experience and National Recognition
Experiential Learning, Expanded Academic Offerings and Addressing Demand
Advancing the Frontiers of Knowledge Elevating the Campus Experience The Future of Our Campus Strong Financial Position 5 6 8 10 12 13 14 15
Welcome to the 2025 State of the University and President’s Report for Georgia State University. I am delighted to take this moment to reflect on our history and discuss our trajectory for the future. The story of Georgia State is one of generational change that our students experience year after year.
As you review Georgia State’s accomplishments, you will see that the state of the university is strong, and our future is bright thanks to the collective efforts of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters. Contributing to our success is the growth in enrollment, expanding reach of our research and our impressive outcomes in student success. These are bolstered by continued faculty excellence, elevation in our rankings, historic levels of fundraising and unprecedented campus enhancements.
Our current momentum puts us at the intersection of possibility and promise, guided by our strategic plan, BluePrint to 2033 — Our Place, Our Time. This plan is a roadmap to our vision and a guiding force on our path to success.
The future is shaped by both our aspirations and the actions we take to achieve them. Our goal is to be a university that not only adapts to the future but one that helps shape it — to be a place that leaves a lasting mark on Atlanta and the world through academic excellence, community impact and a transformative vision.
This is Georgia State’s moment to make history. Together, let’s continue imagining, reimagining and innovating as we build an even brighter future for GSU.
Thank you for being an essential part of this incredible journey.
M. Brian Blake, President
Our strategic plan sets the direction for the university for the next decade, focusing on enhancing cultural enrichment and placemaking, advancing student success, fostering innovation beyond the classroom, and creating and sharing new knowledge.
An R1 research university with an access mission, Georgia State University spans the metro Atlanta region and beyond. Joining cities, suburbs and rural areas experiencing rapid growth, our university brings together diverse people, populations and communities to promote individual development, social transformation and workforce preparedness.
Ten years from now, Georgia State’s cutting-edge research and scholarship will enhance our state’s competitiveness and help our citizens build a better world.
In 2024, $3 million was added to the annual recurring budget to support the implementation of the strategic initiatives outlined in the plan’s key pillars.
As a dynamic, multi-campus institution, Georgia State University will be a place where people want to learn, study, work, live, play and connect.
INNOVATING RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY
Scholars from all disciplines at Georgia State University produce new knowledge that transforms lives and communities, improves the human condition and answers critical questions in our global society.
STUDENT SUCCESS 2.0
Georgia State University boasts one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and consistently demonstrates that students from all backgrounds can succeed at equal rates. We strive to support learners of all ages, identities and experiences. Over the next 10 years, we will continue to improve retention and graduation rates while positioning undergraduate and graduate students for success.
Students from all backgrounds deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential in their career and life. Georgia State University prepares diverse populations of undergraduate and graduate students across the life course to pursue their chosen fields with adaptability, agility and creativity. Our students are primed to be engaged citizens, community leaders and innovators, and effective collaborators who give back to society.
STUDENT SUCCESS 2.0
Our students are the heartbeat of Georgia State, and our diverse community is our greatest strength.
More students are choosing Georgia State, drawn by the reputation of our esteemed faculty, diverse student body, unique location and the proactive efforts of our enrollment leadership team to highlight the university. Others are taking notice of Georgia State’s leadership in enrollment and the student experience as evident in the outstanding awards and recognitions received this past year.
• Overall enrollment grew by 3.8 percent, outpacing the national average of 2.9 percent.
• The student population grew by 1,900 students, reaching 52,400 in fall 2024 across our six campuses.
• New student transfers grew to 1,300 in fall 2024, the largest transfer enrollment since 2020.
• Graduate student enrollment increased by nearly 150 students to a graduate enrollment of 7,528.
• The university allocated a $1.8 million investment in graduate stipends.
• Student-faculty ratios have improved to 25:1 on the Atlanta Campus and 19:1 on the Perimeter College campuses.
• Beyond classroom strategies, we are recognized for sharing our successful approaches with over 100 colleges and universities through the National Institute for Student Success.
Georgia State's faculty exemplify excellence through groundbreaking research, innovative teaching and a deep commitment to student success. Last year, our faculty achievements included the naming of:
• 3 new Regents’ Professors.
• 11 new Distinguished University Professors.
• 12 Faculty Award Recipients.
• 146 Faculty members who received promotions and/or tenure.
• Georgia State was awarded the U.S. Department of Education’s first-ever Trailblazer Award, recognizing our success in increasing graduation rates through data-driven, evidence-based interventions and our impact on the field of student success nationally.
• The National Institute for Student Success received a $2 million grant from the Ascendium Education Group to help six Georgia colleges and universities identify and resolve institutional barriers to student success.
• Our identity as a premier R1 urban research institution holds strong, and our standings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 edition of Best Colleges reflect that.
• For the fifth consecutive year, Georgia State is ranked the No. 1 public university for undergraduate teaching.
• The university is ranked the top public university for learning communities, No. 4 in first-year experiences and has been in the top five for innovation for a decade and counting.
• Georgia State also received high marks in social mobility at No. 15 and study abroad at No. 27.
• The J. Mack Robinson College of Business’s undergraduate risk management and insurance program is ranked No. 3 in the nation, its undergraduate computer information systems program No. 7 and its international business program No. 24.
These milestones reflect the commitment and hard work of our entire community, whose efforts contribute to Georgia State’s continued growth and success.
Georgia State University has a rich history of providing experiential learning opportunities that accelerate students’ professional development and have the potential to transform their careers. Our college-to-career programs offer best-in-class immersive experiences, cutting-edge technology, and unique learning opportunities that are recognized by industry leaders and attract interest from other institutions.
In collaboration with sponsors, the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the College of Arts & Sciences offer five immersive programs:
• Panthers in Charlotte – Sponsored by Truist, this program helps students explore careers in fintech and finance in Charlotte, N.C., the banking capital of the South.
• Panthers in Chicago – Supported by Prologis, this program exposes high-achieving students to the world of commercial real estate through property tours, company visits and alumni mixers in Chicago.
• Panthers in the District – Offered by the Robinson College of Business and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, this signature program immerses students in the nation’s capital.
• Panthers in the Valley – Business and computer science students from Georgia State’s Robinson College and College of Arts & Sciences are immersed in Silicon Valley, a global hub for innovation in analytics, computer information systems, entrepreneurship, fintech and marketing.
• Panthers on Wall Street – Undergraduate and graduate students are connected with high-ranking executives (including Robinson alumni) in New York’s financial district, offering real-world exposure to the finance industry and professional development.
In addition to these experiential programs, we are enhancing our college-to-career initiatives by updating campus facilities and expanding academic offerings. The university is revising the Flexible MBA program, expanding the online Master of Public Health and developing new certificates and degrees to meet evolving workforce needs.
One such need is a growing demand for dental hygienists. Perimeter College’s Dunwoody Campus recently opened a $6.3 million dental hygiene clinic, increasing its capacity to provide dental care to the community and address the demand for this specialty.
Looking ahead, Georgia State will launch two new initiatives: a six-month commission on credentialing and certificates to explore new course and program opportunities, and a plan to establish a School of Computer Science.
Georgia State University is recognized for its innovative research, scholarship, creativity and dedication to addressing complex global challenges. Scholars across the university contribute to advancing knowledge through groundbreaking research that transforms lives, improves the human condition and tackles critical issues in society.
For 25 years, Georgia State has proudly held the prestigious R1 designation from the Carnegie Foundation, reflecting its commitment to high-impact research. Investment in research continues to grow, supported by expanded facilities, centers and programs that foster discovery and innovation.
In fiscal year 2024, our faculty secured nearly $186 million in research funding, with research awards exceeding $140 million for the fifth consecutive year. This continued success is underscored by the scheduled completion of a new $100 million, ninestory Research Tower in 2026, which will further enhance our research capabilities.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of Georgia State’s research strategy. Programs like the Research Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (Project RISE) challenge and the new Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry (CURCI) are designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and drive enterprise-wide initiatives that deliver real-world impact.
Launched in 2022, Project RISE has brought together top scholars across diverse fields to develop transformative projects. Building on its success, we are introducing ARISE, the next generation of Project RISE, which will continue to promote collaborative research, support large-scale funding proposals, and further elevate Georgia State’s research profile and impact.
Our commitment to creating a dynamic, vibrant environment at Georgia State remains at the forefront of our efforts. By blending academic excellence with the energy of urban life, we are not just enhancing the spaces where learning happens but transforming the very fabric of student life. With the support of visionary partners like the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, and through initiatives like the GSU Blue Line and quads on six campuses, we are building a cohesive campus experience that fosters connection, creativity and discovery.
This experience includes expanding facilities to better serve students and the community, like updates to buildings and classroom technology on the Perimeter campuses, and improvements such as the Panther Place Lounge in Student Center West and a new Student Health Hub in the 75 Piedmont building.
A central component of this experience is the creation of a Panther Quad on each campus that will serve as a central social hub and connection point, creating spaces for student living, learning and connecting.
By creating spaces where students feel connected and empowered, we are not only enhancing their experience but shaping a vibrant and inclusive campus community.
A key part of this is the GSU Blue Line, a 3.7-mile walking path through the heart of the Atlanta Campus that connects academic, research and residential buildings, and other distinctive destinations such as the Campus Greenway, Hurt Park, the Student Center and the Student Recreation Center.
As Georgia State grows into its role as a unique destination within Atlanta, we remain dedicated to shaping a future where students, faculty and the community thrive together. The journey is just beginning, and the future is bright for Georgia State University.
Thanks to an $80 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Georgia State University is embarking on its largest transformation project ever. The Building Pathways for Success Initiative calls for creating central hubs that encourage student engagement and strengthen efforts to provide safe, inviting and comfortable spaces. In addition, ground has been broken on a new, nine-story Research Tower that represents a crucial step forward in the university’s strategic commitment to research and innovation and to increase placemaking efforts.
Above: This rendering of the center of campus shows how the removal of Sparks Hall will connect the existing Greenway to a car-free Gilmer Street and Hurt Park. Below, top left: At Woodruff Park, plans call for new sidewalks, a realigned streetcar platform, improvements to the 25 Park Place building and plaza, and other pedestrian-oriented features. Below, bottom left: A new, contemporary glass façade will be added to The Arts and Humanities Building. Below right: The new Research Tower will complete a three-tower research district on the south side of campus.
The university’s financial position and economic value to the community remains strong. Georgia State acts as a central catalyst for development, economic mobility and cultural vitality.
$3.2 B
ECONOMIC IMPACT on metro Atlanta
A hub of activity and productivity, the university brings enterprise to downtown and helps drive Atlanta’s economy.
$335 M FUNDS RAISED the past 3 years
The money raised led to funding for endowed professorships, scholarships, schools and departments.
$4 M IN APPROPRIATIONS for FY 2027
Georgia State is on track to address a $2.4 million reduction in appropriations for FY 2026 with an increase in FY 2027.