Piedmont University’s Instagram
The Vibe
Close-knit, granola vibe (without the pretentiousness for not owning Patagonia shorts)
What It Feels Like to Go Here
Piedmont University is a private liberal arts college in the heart of the Appalachian mountains. The school located in Demorest, Georgia focuses on creating a strong community feel. Because of its small class size (10:1 student-to-teacher ratio!), many students emphasized that the genuine relationships they formed with their professors made their college experience unique. The community here remains close. With a student population of under 2,500, some might think that a small school such as this one has limited social activities. But the sports events are some of the most exciting activities on campus! Students can watch a football game on Friday night, and go hike a mountain on Saturday morning.
Awesome Alumni
Actors and athletes alike call Piedmont University their alma mater. Their successful careers demonstrate the importance of a liberal arts education. Basketball player Jake Baldwin, who graduated from Piedmont in 2008, still holds the record for all-time points scorer in the college’s history. The athletics are part of NCAA Division III, where Baldwin was named Great South Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and Conference Player of the Year (twice). Barbara Jean “B.J.” Ostrzycki, another decorated athlete, was a volleyball star. In Piedmont’s volleyball history, she broke numerous records across the years for the most assists in games.
The education department proudly boasts of Jennifer Carter, who has been named Educator of the Year by her school in Hart County, Georgia. She also received the Excellence in Education Award. The world of arts at Piedmont is home to so much talent, too! John Preece was honored by the Alumni Association as a distinguished alumni after his death for his contribution to theater at the university. He directed and acted in many shows throughout his academic career. He starred in Fiddler in the Roof over 4,000 times! In the world of radio, Caitlin Fisher co-hosts the Cait & Bradley Morning Show on K95.5.
Where We Hang
Because of the location surrounded by the mountains, there are many natural spots to hang out in! There are many stunning waterfalls and challenging hiking trails. Just look at the beautiful Tallulah Gorge! Driving just 15 minutes off of campus, students will find Helen, Georgia: a themed German town that’s complete with bratwursts and tubing down the river. Activities such as hiking, kayaking, and fishing are just a few of the activities the town has to offer. On campus, there’s also the Student Commons, which houses the campus dining, the bookstore, and the fitness center. The indoor rock climbing wall and racquetball court make for a central hub for students to hang out in and not waste gas money.
While the Demorest campus remains much larger and hosts a majority of the student body, Piedmont hosts another campus in Athens, Georgia. This college town is central to the Southeast because of the SEC powerhouse, The University of Georgia. So yes, there are lots of places for students to party on the weekends. However, don’t count Athens out— it’s also home to art galleries and concerts that are happening almost every day of the week.
Q&A
1. How much are students partying?
“Piedmont is not a huge party school whatsoever. There is the occasional party here and there, but never anything huge like what you see at bigger schools such as University of Georgia or University of Alabama. I think a lot of students at Piedmont would rather go to Athens or somewhere near than stay at school to hang out. I don’t feel like there is this pressure to party though like what you may see at other schools. This is probably due to Piedmont being on the smaller side and there being a lot of other things to do on campus and off of campus! All in all, I really do enjoy the social side of Piedmont because there are plenty of things to get plugged into that don’t have to do with partying,” Piedmont University junior Caroline Odom said.
2. What will you get in trouble for at your school?
“It’s a pretty traditional school and I know it’s a dry campus so there’s definitely a drive away from any type of party atmosphere or more risqué themes in student activity,” Piedmont University graduate Emily Lord.
3. How much sex are students having? How is safe sex encouraged on campus?
“Unimportant,” Piedmont University junior Sierra Judson said when asked what the attitude around sexual activity at the school is.
4. What would you tell incoming freshmen about your school?
“I hope that the incoming freshmen come to Piedmont with an open mind and just enjoy the small college vibe that Piedmont has to offer! It is genuinely a really nice community and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far,” Piedmont University senior Tyler Pellegrino said.
5. What is your experience with the clubs you are involved in on campus and what have they meant for your college experience?
“My experience with Track and Field/Cross Country and Piedmont University Singers has been absolutely amazing. While both settings are very different they both offered me an opportunity to meet a lot of amazing and inspiring individuals. I have been very fortunate to have motivating and caring coaches and directors during all 3 years of my college experience at Piedmont. These organizations have pushed me to go beyond what I was capable of both physically and mentally, and the support and encouragement I’ve received from my teammates and fellow singers is more than I ever could have asked for.” Piedmont University senior Victoria Drouin said.
Student Reviews
“I like that it can be very close knit, everyone kinda knows everyone and because of the smaller class sizes you can get a lot of specific help from your professors without feeling as intimated to ask for it. Another benefit of the closeness is that you can find a lot of connections through your professors at Piedmont that can help you get into the career you want before you even graduate,” Piedmont University senior Victoria Drouin said.
“I really love the community of the theatre department even though it’s sort of small now, we currently have about 25 people in the department (excluding now graduating seniors and incoming freshmen). My freshman year we had maybe close to 45-50 people in the department so it is a major shift in how the community of the department has changed. I feel a lot closer to my peers in the department now and have a strong theatre family that I enjoy being around on a daily basis! The small community of the university in general makes me feel more secure and connected with the people around me, especially with the theatre department. It’s so easy to just go and hangout with people I enjoy being around in the theatre as well as other peers I have outside of the department,” Piedmont University Senior Tyler Pellegrino said.
“I graduated from UGA in 2022 but I was at Piedmont for about a year and a half. It was a great experience that eased me into the changes in responsibility and structure that come with college. Classes were small and faculty were warm; everything felt approachable. I definitely missed the family feel of the school once I transferred! You quickly become familiar with other students and faculty. I never had a teacher who didn’t know my name and I constantly felt surrounded by support. If I showed interest in a certain topic, opportunity, or career path, I knew the staff would rally around me to offer direction and resources. I loved the Psychology courses that I took at Piedmont and my professors made the content enriching and engaging. They were very encouraging and reinforced that I was capable and well suited to a career in Psychology. Without those experiences so early on in my academic career, I don’t believe I would have begun pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology,” Piedmont University graduate Emily Lord said.
“Piedmont was my home away from home. It was a place I felt safe and heard because of the community. Although I had a family within the tennis team, I was able to create a community outside of my tennis team. No matter what anyone looked like or where they came from everyone was welcomed and loved. Everyone had a place that was meant for them,” Piedmont University graduate Leo Galarza said.
“Something that surprised me about Piedmont was the professors. They really take the time to get to know you, make connections with you, and want to see you do well. Especially playing a sport, they are pretty flexible with traveling and missing and are always there for you.” Piedmont University junior Peyton Gates said.
Top 3 Majors
1. Nursing
2. Elementary Education
3. Business Administration and Management
Top 3 Most Popular Student Organizations
1. American Marketing Association
According to their Instagram, the AMA at Piedmont is “an academic business club for networking and professional career development.” For students looking to get involved with local businesses and learn valuable skills outside of the classroom, this might be the club for you! Some of the perks include free professional headshots, awesome guest speakers, and fundraising events that involve the community. This club will undoubtedly be a great opportunity for networking!
2. Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) will be central for any athlete or coach looking to foster their spiritual relationship on campus. The club hosts both women’s and men’s weekly Bible studies, nights of worship, and social events to create a strong Christian community for the Piedmont University Lions. This club fosters amazing leadership and mentorship from those who want to see student-athletes succeed!
3. The Roar
The Roar is Piedmont University’s award-winning newspaper that reports on events happening across campus. Some topics include campus safety, the successes of the lacrosse teams, and opinion pieces about the horrible parking at Piedmont. They also report on some state and national news. You can find their website here.
Getting In
The university’s holistic approach to admissions ensures that no student will just be seen just for their test scores or GPA. Instead, they tend to look at students who will fit into the Piedmont community with involvement in extracurricular activities, sports, and community-oriented service. GPA wouldn’t be completely ignored though. In order to be accepted, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Because of the small class size of Piedmont, admissions wants students who will add to their student body as a community.
Stats
Location: Demorest, Georgia
Tuition & Fees: $30,200 annual tuition, $240 fees per semester
Total Cost on Campus:
Undergrads Enrolled: 1,246
Grads Enrolled: 650
Total Enrolled: 1,896
Acceptance percentage: 65%
Percent Admitted who Enroll: N/A
Enrollment: 2,500
Percentage of Male Students: 28%
Percentage of Female Students: 72%
Percentage Receiving Financial Aid: 96%
Percentage Receiving Federal Grants: N/A
Percentage Receiving Federal Loans: 79%
