“Public research university and academic medical center, Georgia's public health sciences hub”
Augusta University (AU) is Georgia's public health-sciences university, tracing its roots to 1828 when the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) was chartered as the state's first medical school — making it the 13th oldest in the United States. Located along the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia, the university consolidated its modern form in 2013 through the merger of Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University, and today enrolls approximately 10,000 students across 10 colleges and schools on two main campuses: the downtown Health Sciences Campus and the adjacent Summerville Campus for liberal arts, sciences, and business. AU's identity is dominated by its health-professions schools — the Medical College of Georgia (the state's flagship MD-granting medical school and eighth-largest in the U.S.), the Dental College of Georgia (the state's only dental school), the College of Nursing, the College of Allied Health Sciences, and the School of Public Health — plus strong programs in cyber sciences (through the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences), business (Hull College of Business), kinesiology, biology, and psychology. The U.S. Army's Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon sits just miles from campus, and AU has aggressively built cybersecurity and cyber-defense programs around that relationship. More than 150 areas of study are offered overall. For international students, Augusta University offers a straightforward pathway into U.S. health-sciences and STEM education with a historically high acceptance rate (~89%) and reasonable public-university tuition. The Office of International & Postdoctoral Services supports F-1 and J-1 students with I-20 issuance, CPT/OPT authorization, and immigration workshops. Students who commit at least 90 days before term start get full I-20 processing support. Campus life centers on the Jaguars — AU's NCAA Division I and II athletic teams — a 300+ student organization community, a 16-chapter Greek Life system, and traditions like Freshman Convocation, the Class Pinning ceremony, the penny toss at Blanchard Fountain, and the Weeks of Welcome that kick off every fall.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Top Public Schools
US News 2026
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding Early Action deadline for Fall 2026 first-year applicants.
Regular Decision / Final
Final deadline for Fall 2026 first-year applications.
International F-1 Priority
International applicants should commit at least 90 days before intended term start to allow I-20 and visa processing.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$8,414
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$24,734
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Georgia's flagship medical school with statewide clinical campuses, strong USMLE performance, and residency matches across the Southeast.
4 years
Located just miles from the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon — STEM-OPT designated with strong pipelines into federal cyber contractors.
4 years
Georgia's only DMD program, with on-campus teaching clinics and specialty residencies in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral surgery.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $24,734
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
