
Savannah State University is a public historically Black university founded in 1890. Established as the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth, it was created to expand higher-education opportunities for Black Georgians during segregation.
The institution opened in 1891 and later took the names Georgia State College and Savannah State College before becoming Savannah State University in 1996. Those changes reflect its development from an industrial college into a university offering undergraduate and graduate study. Its history remains central to its identity as an HBCU, while admission is open to students of all backgrounds.
Savannah State University organizes its academic programs chiefly through the College of Business Administration, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the College of Sciences and Technology. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees across fields such as business, journalism, social work, biology, criminal justice, and engineering technology, as well as selected graduate degrees.
The mix of programs matters when comparing schools: engineering technology, for example, is a different academic pathway from a traditional engineering degree. Applicants should examine the catalog for the precise degree title, required courses, internship or fieldwork expectations, and any separate admission requirements for their intended major. Graduate offerings and individual program requirements should likewise be checked at the program level rather than inferred from undergraduate admissions policies.
Savannah State University's main campus is in Savannah, Georgia, east of the city's downtown area. Its coastal location gives students access to a regional employment market that includes government, health care, education, logistics, and tourism, although the value of that access depends on a student's field and transportation options.
Commuting is a meaningful part of campus life: reported figures indicate that about 44% of students commute. Students considering an off-campus address should compare travel time and parking arrangements with their class schedules. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport serves the area, but everyday trips between campus, housing, and work require more immediate transportation planning.
Savannah State University's stated mission centers on accessible public higher education, teaching, scholarship, service, and preparation for participation in a diverse society. Its identity as a historically Black university is part of that purpose, not a restriction on who may enroll.
For prospective students, the mission is best evaluated through concrete features: the programs offered, opportunities for research and community engagement, academic advising, and support available to different kinds of learners. Institutional goals describe what the university intends to do; they are not, by themselves, evidence of an individual student's outcome.
Name of the institution
Savannah State UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1890Savannah State University 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.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 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.