The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) has finalized the consolidation of Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State College (EGSC). The new institution will operate under the name Georgia Southern University, with President Kyle Marrero at the helm, starting January 1, 2026.
This decision comes after approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which reviewed and signed off on the merger. USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue initially recommended the consolidation in April.
“This consolidation reflects our commitment to expanding access to higher education and strengthening the regional workforce in southeastern Georgia,” Perdue said. “I’m grateful to the Board of Regents for its support and to SACSCOC for its thorough review and approval. I especially want to thank President Marrero and the implementation teams at Georgia Southern and EGSC. Their hard work has laid the foundation for a stronger Georgia Southern while honoring EGSC’s identity and legacy in Swainsboro.”
SACSCOC officials approved the prospectus for the consolidated institution during their annual meeting in Nashville. This approval was required before USG could move forward with official authorization.
With this change, USG will reduce its number of institutions from 26 to 25 beginning January 1, 2026. EGSC campuses will be known as Georgia Southern University – East Georgia campuses.
USG began consolidating institutions in 2011 as part of an effort to improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs while maintaining academic standards across teaching, research, and service missions. The first round of consolidations was approved by the board in November 2011, followed by a recommendation in January 2012 that merged eight public colleges and universities within what was then a system of 35 institutions. Since then, five more consolidations have been completed, making this merger between Georgia Southern and EGSC the sixth such action.
