Savannah State University

Savannah State University is a public historically Black university located in Savannah, Georgia. Founded in 1890, it is the oldest public historically Black college or university in the state and a member of the University System of Georgia. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across disciplines including business, education, the sciences, liberal arts, and public administration. Its coastal campus sits near the Atlantic shoreline and serves a diverse student population. Savannah State University is known for its historic mission of expanding access to higher education and for its role in educating generations of students in Georgia and beyond.

Savannah State University was founded in 1890 as the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth under the Second Morrill Act, which required southern states to provide land-grant education for Black students during segregation. The institution relocated to Savannah in 1891, and Richard R. Wright became its first president, guiding its early development. In 1928 it became a full four-year degree-granting institution. The school was renamed Georgia State College in 1932 and Savannah State College in 1950. During the twentieth century, Savannah State University expanded its academic programs and facilities while remaining committed to its historic mission. In 1996, the University System of Georgia granted university status, and the institution adopted the name Savannah State University. Today, Savannah State University continues to serve students in Savannah, Georgia, as a public HBCU with undergraduate and graduate offerings.