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All About SG (Research, Facts, Trends)
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Everything SG: Facts, Firsts, and the Numbers Behind Student Government

Explore the world of collegiate Student Government — from its earliest origins to today's highest voter turnouts, biggest budgets, and most unusual records. ASGA brings together data, history, trends, and "firsts" from thousands of campuses across the country. Data is based on the ASGA SG Database, which includes decades of information for every SG.
SG Facts and Trends
5,109
Colleges in ASGA Database
975
Colleges with no SG (18%)
4%
Avg election turnout
77%
SGs compensate officers
50%
SGs amending constitutions now
Bi-cameral
Most common SG structure
Did You Know?
?More women are serving in SG than ever before (53.4% in 2026-27) including 54% serving as SG president in 25-26.
?About 19% of SG presidents are African-American.
Colonial reenactors
SG Fact:
The first SGs in the 1700s were honor & literary societies. They had no advocate role, no activity fees, were not elected, didn't recognize clubs.
History and Firsts
Who was the first woman SG president? First African American president? First LGBTQ officer?
SG Names
What SG name is most common? What is most unusual?
Budgets and Finance
Combined SG budgets: ASGA has data for 1,146 of 5,481 institutions (21%). Their combined budget totals $895,246,542.
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Largest Budgets — Private Colleges
SOON
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Activity Fees — Average
SOON
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Largest Budgets — Community Colleges
SOON
Grades and Rankings
Are you the average, or is your SG an anomaly? Knowing national standards helps you assess where you stand.
SG Grades — scored using ASGA's SG Effectiveness Test
State Grades & Reports
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SG Grades by College Type/Size
Web Site Rankings
External Rankings
ASGA Game Show contestants
Featured Resource
ASGA Game Show
Everyone loves ASGA's Game Show, "How Much Do You Really Know About SG?" — recorded throughout the year at our training conferences. Test your knowledge and see how you stack up.
Have information that could improve our findings? Email info@asgaonline.com