


Courtesy of Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta that began as the Georgia School of Technology. Georgia established the school in 1885 as part of an effort to develop technical education and industry in the state; it opened to students in 1888.
The institution initially emphasized mechanical engineering and practical training. Its academic scope expanded over time, and it adopted the name Georgia Institute of Technology in 1948. Georgia Tech admitted women in the 1950s and enrolled its first Black students in 1961. Today, its programs extend beyond engineering to computing, sciences, business, design, and liberal arts, while technology and applied research remain central to its identity.
Georgia Tech organizes its academic programs into six colleges: Computing, Design, Engineering, Sciences, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and the Scheller College of Business. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees; it is not primarily an associate-degree institution.
Students can study fields such as computer science, mechanical and aerospace engineering, biology, architecture, industrial design, economics, public policy, and business administration. Colleges contain more specialized schools - for example, the College of Engineering includes schools devoted to aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical and computer, industrial and systems, and mechanical engineering. Georgia Tech's academic catalog is the appropriate place to check a major's current curriculum, prerequisites, and degree requirements; admission to the institution does not make every change of major automatic.
Georgia Tech's main campus is in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, in a dense urban setting close to employers, cultural venues, and other universities. Its location can make internships and research collaborations accessible, but students should also plan for city traffic, parking costs, and the time needed to cross campus or commute.
Atlanta's MARTA rail and bus system connects parts of the metropolitan area, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Georgia Tech also operates campus transportation. The institute has other instructional and research sites, but applicants considering an Atlanta-based degree should not assume that a program offered through another location or online follows the same schedule or campus arrangements.
Georgia Tech states that its mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. Its institutional priorities connect education, research, innovation, and public service.
For prospective students, that mission helps explain the emphasis on technical fields, interdisciplinary projects, and applying research to practical problems. It is a statement of institutional purpose, not evidence that every student will have the same educational or career outcome. Georgia Tech is a public institution and has no institutional religious affiliation.
Name of the institution
Georgia Institute of TechnologyLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
20,000 and aboveSchool type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1885Georgia Institute of Technology is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.