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Reaching Rural Students in Georgia and Beyond

Deeply ingrained in Georgia Tech’s campus culture and strategic plan is the goal to expand access to students from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. Students from rural communities bring a unique set of experiences to college and are essential to achieve Tech’s mission to improve the human condition and build lasting solutions to the world’s problems.

Who is a rural student?


Most students feel that they could confidently answer this question if asked. We give you the opportunity to tell us if you are from a small town or rural area on your admission application. When you complete the CommonApp, you’ll find an option to let us know if you are from a rural or small town.

Many colleges, Georgia Tech included, also use the National Center for Education Statistics definition of rural communities.

Rural Student Resources

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Georgia Tech Scholars

The Georgia Tech Scholars Program is designed to recruit and enroll academically talented students from across our state. Through this program, Georgia Tech will offer admission to valedictorians and salutatorians from Georgia high schools who meet the requirements.

GT Scholars
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Tech Promise Scholarship

The G. Wayne Clough Georgia Tech Promise Scholarship makes it possible for academically qualified in-state students with family incomes below $55,500 to earn a Georgia Tech degree debt-free.

Explore Scholarship
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Val-Sal Scholarship

Valedictorians and salutatorians who are Georgia residents with demonstrated financial need may be eligible to receive an annual $2,500 Georgia Tech Val-Sal Scholarship.

Review Scholarship
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Transfer Pathways

Transfer pathways offer an alternative route to the traditional transfer application process for qualified students. A variety of pathways are available for transferring to Georgia Tech.

View Pathway Programs
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Dual Enrollment

Georgia Tech offers dual enrollment to Georgia students. Our program intends to enrich the high school experience, not replace it. Students who take classes usually continue taking classes and participating in their high school communities.

Dual Enrollment Details
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Contact Us

Connect with us! Reach out to our Rural Admission Team with questions or to learn more about your next steps at Tech.

Contact Us

Rural Initiatives

Rural outreach extends beyond Georgia Tech. Explore the partnerships listed below to learn more about programming and helpful resources.

The Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network is dedicated to working with high schools and access organizations to widen pathways to higher education for rural and small-town students. By partnering with STARS, Tech is building on our existing initiatives to work with rural communities, support the work of school officials and student advocates, and provide multiple avenues to experience and explore what Tech has to offer.

Explore Network

Participating rural high schools in Georgia have access to computer science modules based on unique programs/resources at Tech, developed and led by Tech faculty. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by offering these interactive modules in critical areas such as coding, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, sensors, and data visualization.

Rural CS Initiative

Schoolhouse.world is a platform for free, peer-to-peer tutoring–where anyone, anywhere can receive live help, build their skills, and pay it forward by becoming a tutor themselves. Students who complete certification through the no-cost platform may upload this information to their application portal for admission consideration.

Students studying on a national curriculum that includes fewer than 12 full years of study or that does not include a calculus course or homeschooled students from an unaccredited program are encouraged to consider demonstrating additional subject mastery through schoolhouse subject certification, particularly in calculus.

Visit Schoolhouse

Upcoming Events

We have many in-person and virtual visit options for prospective high school and transfer students to learn more about Georgia Tech. We hope that the variety of programming will help you learn everything you need to know about Georgia Tech and the college admission process.

Explore Campus Visits

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Take a Virtual Tour!

Take a closer look at the Georgia Tech campus through our virtual tour, linked below.