A public institution founded in 1785 by Lyman Hall as a land-grant college, the University of Georgia has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 30,000. UGA is situated at the center of downtown Athens, Georgia, and is the academic and economic hub of Clarke County. 

UGA is home to over 800 student organizations, a wide range of fraternities and sororities, and major-specific honor societies. Georgia residents should note that applicants with a GPA over 3.5 are eligible for the Hope Scholarship, which is funded by The Georgia Lottery, a system that was organized by former Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller. The school is made up of 17 colleges including the Terry College of Business, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Odom School of Ecology. UGA operates on a semester system with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1 and a graduation rate of 83.7%

Beyond academics, The University of Georgia Bulldogs compete in the SEC, with an annual football rivalry with local Atlanta rival Georgia Tech led by their mascot Ugga the Bulldog. In town, Athens offers students a wide range of restaurants, bars, and music venues to enjoy seven days a week. Notable alumni include Heisman winner Herschel Walker, golfer Bubba Watson, and chef and television personality Alton Brown.