Brenau University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Brenau University is a private research university in Gainesville, Georgia, enrolling about 1,029 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 87.78% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,003 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $34,027
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,924 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 87.78% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,029 84.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 32.91%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 40.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 11.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 55.5%
- Average SAT Score: 1079
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,479
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,761
- Room & Board: $12,850 annual estimate
Brenau University: what the data shows
Common questions about Brenau University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Brenau University?
Brenau University is located in Gainesville, GA (ZIP 30501-3668).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Brenau University public or private?
Brenau University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Brenau University cost?
Published tuition: $34,027.
Average net price after aid: $18,924.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,481 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,379 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,420 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,279 |
| $110,001+ | $20,426 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $136,108.
How hard is it to get into Brenau University?
Admission rate: 87.78%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1079 and midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Brenau University?
Total enrollment: 1,029 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,479 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,163 students.
About 85% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Brenau University?
150%-time completion rate: 32.91%.
First-year retention: 65.0%.
What do graduates of Brenau University earn?
Median earnings: $41,664 six years after entry; $54,003 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
45.86% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Brenau University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Nursing Practice (127 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (100 completions)
- Occupational Therapy/Therapist (78 completions)
- Physical Therapy/Therapist (39 completions)
- Clinical Psychology (34 completions)
- Physician Associate/Assistant (33 completions)
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching (27 completions)
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (24 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (20 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (20 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Brenau University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 87.78%; completion rate 32.91%; median earnings $54,003 at 10 years; net price $18,924. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$34,027
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Brenau University was $34,027.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,924
2024 Value
In 2024 Brenau University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,924.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$75,696 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,924 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$136,108 4-Year Tuition
$12,850 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,250 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$48,127 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$192,508 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Brenau University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
45.86% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
69.87% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Brenau University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Brenau University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $23,350 | $23,350 | $15,493 |
| 2014 | $24,780 | $24,780 | $17,241 |
| 2015 | $25,878 | $25,878 | $25,218 |
| 2016 | $27,152 | $27,152 | $18,014 |
| 2017 | $28,510 | $28,510 | $18,531 |
| 2018 | $29,050 | $29,050 | $22,083 |
| 2019 | $31,084 | $31,084 | $21,745 |
| 2020 | $31,720 | $31,720 | $22,402 |
| 2021 | $32,530 | $32,530 | $22,771 |
| 2022 | $32,685 | $32,685 | $23,535 |
| 2023 | $33,275 | $33,275 | $20,786 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
87.78% Acceptance Rate
2,761 Total Applicants
2,401 Students Admitted
205 First-Time Students Enrolled
8.54% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1079
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Brenau University reported total enrollment of about 1,029 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 9% male and 91% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (41.9%), Black or African American (24.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (21.1%). About 45.86% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Brenau University in 2024 is 1,029 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,479 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,163 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
65.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 41.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
26.73% 100% Completion Time
32.91% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 26.73% of students graduating from Brenau University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Nursing Practice: 12% male / 88% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 4% male / 96% female
- Occupational Therapy/Therapist: 12% male / 88% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Brenau University.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$54,003 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
50.00% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
613.42% Return on Investment
5.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Brenau University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 48 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Nursing Practice: 127 completions
2. Elementary Education and Teaching: 100 completions
3. Occupational Therapy/Therapist: 78 completions
4. Physical Therapy/Therapist: 39 completions
5. Clinical Psychology: 34 completions
6. Physician Associate/Assistant: 33 completions
7. Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching: 27 completions
8. Family Practice Nurse/Nursing: 24 completions
9. Business Administration and Management, General: 20 completions
Most popular programs at Brenau University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Brenau University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Brenau University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 55.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,783
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,992
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Brenau University is a private non-profit institution located in Gainesville, GA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Nursing Practice, Elementary Education and Teaching, Occupational Therapy/Therapist. Enrollment is approximately 1,029 students. Student body composition includes White (41.9%), Black or African American (24.0%), Hispanic or Latino (21.1%). The admission rate is 87.78%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1079. The 150%-time completion rate is 32.91%. Approximately 45.86% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Gainesville, GA 30501-3668
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 32.91% graduation rate at Brenau University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Brenau University located?
Brenau University is located in Gainesville, GA.
What is Brenau University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Brenau University is 87.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,761 applicants and 2,401 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Brenau University cost?
Reported tuition is $34,027 and average net price is $18,924 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,850 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Brenau University?
Brenau University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,479 students, White (41.9%), Black or African American (24.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Brenau University?
About 40.3% of students at Brenau University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Brenau University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Brenau University reports midpoint SAT about 1079 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Brenau University earn?
Median earnings are $41,664 six years after entry and $54,003 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Brenau University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 32.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Brenau University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Brenau University public or private?
Brenau University is a private nonprofit institution located in Gainesville, GA.
Is Brenau University an HBCU?
No. Brenau University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Brenau University a tribal college?
No. Brenau University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Georgia college costs
- Georgia colleges by ROI
- Gainesville, Georgia city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Georgia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.