University System of Georgia Confers Record 86,660 Degrees in FY2026

Celebrating Valdosta State University's Undergraduate Commencement on the Front Lawn.

Since joining the Complete College America initiative in 2011 to boost degree completion, USG has seen the number of degrees awarded jump by 58%. That growth far outpaces system enrollment, which grew 20.2% over the same period.

“Over my four years as chancellor, we’ve seen remarkable growth in degrees awarded across the system. But beyond the data, higher education is fundamentally a life-changing business,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Higher education and economic development form a powerful flywheel: as more Georgians earn degrees, individual families build financial security and our state’s economy gains momentum. I’m immensely proud of our graduates and the lasting prosperity they bring to their communities.”

Graduate and professional degrees accounted for much of the gain, rising 7.3% to 30,961. Undergraduates earned 55,699 degrees, up 3.6% from FY2025.

The latest numbers also show a surge in demand for short-term, career-focused credentials. One-year undergraduate certificates climbed 21.5% year over year — topping the 20.1% growth seen over the last five years combined. Graduate certificates jumped 12.2% over last year and have surged 125.2% since 2022, marking the fastest-growing credential at the graduate level.

To keep that momentum going, Georgia launched the DREAMS Scholarship this year — the state’s first need-based financial aid program. Having initially launched DREAMS as a system initiative, USG is now leading the drive to build a $1.5 billion state endowment that helps students every step of the way to finishing their degree.

Long before their statewide debuts, Chancellor Perdue also championed efforts to help more high school students prepare for college and future careers. Today, those concepts are core state priorities. The Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy recently announced Georgia Connect, a single online platform connecting every Georgian with a personalized plan for their education and career. It complements Georgia MATCH, launched in 2023 alongside state partners such as the Georgia Student Finance Commission, to directly match high school seniors with colleges that fit their goals. Last October, the state sent direct-match letters to over 132,000 seniors in the Class of 2026, with plans to reach at least 130,000 students in the Class of 2027.

Taken together, these programs clear a straightforward path for students — helping more Georgians from all corners of the state map out a career, pick the right college, access their education and cross the graduation stage.

USG also continues to roll out tools that help students stay on track to graduation. In 2022, the system launched Georgia Degrees Pay to give families clear data on tuition, student success and overall return on investment across all 25 of USG’s public colleges and universities. Last year, USG added the Academic Program Finder, allowing students to search across every campus and online degree to pinpoint the best fit for their goals.

That steady climb in degrees since 2011 mirrors the life-changing value of a USG education. A recent study found that USG graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn more than $1.4 million over their lifetimes than high school graduates do.