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Brenau University

Gainesville, Georgia 30501-3668

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivate

Known for health sciences — close-knit campus

Brenau University is a private institution in Gainesville with particular strength in health sciences and business. With an average SAT of 1087, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 981 undergraduates with a 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

35% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $54,003 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $20,786.

Established
1878
Motto
As Gold Refined By Fire
Mascot
HJ
Type
Private university
Conference
National Association of

Plan Your Visit

87%Acceptance
1087SAT Avg
981Students
11:1Student:Faculty
35%Grad Rate
$54,003Earnings 10yr
$20,786Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Brenau University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate87.0%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1087

Reading & WritingMid: 560
510590
MathMid: 505
480580

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 23
1723

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

87.0%

Trend

SAT Avg

1087

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$33,275
Room & Board$12,600
Books & Supplies$1,240
Total Cost of Attendance$45,931
Average Net Price$20,786
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$20,696
$30–48K$19,278
$48–75K$21,551
$75–110K$24,922
$110K+$19,129

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

25.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$18,425

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

7

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (75)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

62%

Negative
  • •62% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
981
Gender Split
92% / 8%
Women / Men
First Generation
40%
Pell Grant Recipients
47%

Race & Ethnicity

White 44%
Black 24%
Hispanic 19%
Asian 2%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate35.4%
Freshman Retention62.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$41,664
10 Years$54,003

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • •78000987Added to NRHPAugust 24, 1978 Brenau was founded in 1878 as a private institution for the education of women.
  • •Pearce purchased the institution and renamed it Brenau, a linguistic blend formed from the German word brennen, "to burn", and the Latin aurum, "gold".
  • •Brenau College remained privately owned until 1911 when a board of trustees assumed stewardship of the college, as remains the case today.
  • •In 1928, Brenau created a female, residential, college-preparatory school serving grades 9 through 12.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ATL Atlanta57 mi
CLT Charlotte175 mi
BHM Birmingham176 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA886 mi · ~25h 36m drive
New York, NY696 mi · ~20h 6m drive
Hartford, CT795 mi · ~22h 58m drive
Providence, RI850 mi · ~24h 33m drive
Albany, NY792 mi · ~22h 53m drive
Syracuse, NY732 mi · ~21h 9m drive
Rochester, NY697 mi · ~20h 8m drive
Buffalo, NY650 mi · ~18h 47m drive
Philadelphia, PA616 mi · ~17h 48m drive
Pittsburgh, PA473 mi · ~13h 40m drive
Harrisburg, PA561 mi · ~16h 12m drive
Newark, NJ690 mi · ~19h 56m drive
Washington, DC492 mi · ~14h 13m drive
Baltimore, MD527 mi · ~15h 13m drive
Atlanta, GA50 mi · ~1h 27m drive
Charlotte, NC181 mi · ~5h 14m drive
Raleigh, NC310 mi · ~8h 57m drive
Miami, FL629 mi · ~18h 10m drive
Orlando, FL424 mi · ~12h 15m drive
Tampa, FL446 mi · ~12h 53m drive
Nashville, TN211 mi · ~6h 6m drive
New Orleans, LA473 mi · ~13h 40m drive
Richmond, VA421 mi · ~12h 10m drive
Chicago, IL563 mi · ~16h 16m drive
Detroit, MI556 mi · ~16h 4m drive
Minneapolis, MN891 mi · ~25h 44m drive
St. Louis, MO463 mi · ~13h 23m drive
Kansas City, MO681 mi · ~19h 40m drive
Indianapolis, IN399 mi · ~11h 32m drive
Columbus, OH394 mi · ~11h 23m drive
Cleveland, OH511 mi · ~14h 46m drive
Milwaukee, WI642 mi · ~18h 33m drive
Dallas, TX754 mi · ~21h 47m drive
Houston, TX745 mi · ~21h 31m drive
Austin, TX859 mi · ~24h 49m drive
San Antonio, TX923 mi · ~26h 40m drive
Los Angeles, CA1958 mi · ~56h 34m drive
San Francisco, CA2155 mi · ~62h 15m drive
San Diego, CA1915 mi · ~55h 19m drive
Seattle, WA2181 mi · ~63h drive
Portland, OR2175 mi · ~62h 50m drive
Denver, CO1223 mi · ~35h 20m drive
Phoenix, AZ1617 mi · ~46h 43m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1594 mi · ~46h 3m drive
Honolulu, HI4518 mi · ~130h 31m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Atlanta (ATL)57 miles
Rental car
86 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
114 min$68-114
Charlotte (CLT)175 miles
Rental car
263 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
350 min$210-350

Deadline Calendar

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Brenau University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Brenau University — v2 Preview — TourStack