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Gainesville, GA · Demorest, GA
| Brenau University | Piedmont University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $18,924/yr | $20,599/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $19,481/yr | $15,416/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $17,379/yr | $17,618/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $18,420/yr | $19,085/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,279/yr | $24,161/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $20,426/yr | $25,622/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,850/yr | $13,100/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,536/yr | $10,668/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,250/yr | $1,298/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,950/yr | $3,630/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $46,010/yr | $46,801/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $34,027/yr | $31,700/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $34,027/yr | $31,700/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 46% | 42% |
| Students taking federal loans | 70% | 66% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 88% | 93% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 930–1200 | 1038–1245 |
| SAT average | 1079 | 1129 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–22 | 18–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–22 · Math 16–19 | English 19–25 · Math 18–26 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,761 | 2,066 |
| Students accepted | 2,401 | 1,918 |
| Students who enrolled | 205 | 286 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 8.5% | 15% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 12% | 33% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 6% | 15% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 33% | 47% |
| Freshmen who come back | 65% | 70% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,003/yr | $49,130/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $34,083–$79,256 | $33,695–$70,024 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 36% | 51% |
| White students graduating | 35% | 46% |
| Black students graduating | 30% | 43% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 24% | 80% |
| Asian students graduating | 40% | 67% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $41,664/yr | $43,761/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 75% | 72% |
| Graduate on time | 27% | 37% |
| Pell students who graduate | 24% | 41% |
| First-gen students who finish | 38% | 54% |
| Low-income students who finish | 34% | 49% |
| Students who transfer out | 47% | 35% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $48,236/yr | $48,441/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Education 23% · Health Professions 21% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 13% | Health Professions 32% · Education 19% · Business, Management & Marketing 17% |
| Most popular program | Education — 23% of degrees | Health Professions — 32% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 21% of degrees | Education — 19% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 13% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 12% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 4% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $101,548/yr | Curriculum and Instruction — $92,531/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,029 | 1,117 |
| Students per professor | 11 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,163 | 698 |
| Average professor pay | $7,783/mo | $7,502/mo |
| Full-time professors | 55% | 62% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $29,256 | $42,868 |
| Setting | City (small) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Gainesville, GA | Demorest, GA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1878 | 1897 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.7% | 1% |
| Men | 9.3% | 34% |
| Women | 91% | 66% |
| White students | 42% | 65% |
| Black students | 24% | 14% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 21% | 12% |
| Asian students | 1.9% | 0.9% |
| Two or more races | 4.5% | 3.4% |
| Other / not reported | 1% | 4.4% |
| Special type | Women's college | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 40% | 31% |
| Part-time students | 15% | 4.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 29% | 15% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,992/yr | $8,051/yr |
| Endowment | $61.2M | $49.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 447 | 1,023 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $6,400/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $5,700/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | United Church of Christ |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division I | NCAA Division III without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 12 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 178 | 431 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.8M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $3.1M | $4.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $3.1M | $4.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $7,508 | $48,310 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.