Georgia Southern University, an institution of the University System of Georgia, is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a Doctoral/Research institution. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Georgia Southern offers 123 academic majors in a comprehensive array of baccalaureate degrees and selected master's and doctoral programs. The University has earned national accreditation in 66 program areas from 21 accrediting bodies. Academic programs are organized in eight colleges: Business Administration, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Information Technology, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology, and the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies. The University awarded 2,660 degrees in 2005-2006.

A residential university with a Fall 2006 enrollment of over 16,000 students, Georgia Southern is the largest university in the southern half of Georgia and apart from the three research universities, the most comprehensive center of public higher education in the state. One of the top choices in Georgia for new freshmen, including HOPE Scholars, Georgia Southern enrolls an increasingly selective student body representing all of Georgia, 48 states, and more than 85 nations. Ninety percent of undergraduates are full-time students. The University is enhancing its academic profile through higher admission standards, an expanded Honors Program, and scholarships for academically talented students.

Georgia Southern University is committed to advancing the State of Georgia and the region through the benefits of higher education, offering baccalaureate through doctoral degrees, and a variety of outreach programs. The University fosters access to its educational programs, provides a comprehensive and fulfilling university experience, and enhances quality of life in the region through collaborative relationships supporting education, health care and human services, cultural experiences, scientific and technological advancement, athletics, and regional development. Georgia Southern’s strategic plan includes advancing the University to the top tier of national rankings in its class.

The 675-acre park-like campus continues an era of capital construction that has opened new facilities for colleges and academic programs, student recreation and development, university housing, athletics, and public service. The learning environment is enhanced by a museum of cultural and natural history, a botanical garden, a unique wildlife education center, a performing arts center, and a continuing education and conference center. The University's Division I athletic teams compete in the Southern Conference. The campus is located in Statesboro, a safe, hospitable, and progressive Main Street community of 30,000, an hour from historic Savannah and beach resorts, and approximately 200 miles from Atlanta.