Best Georgia Colleges & Universities

There are 30 institutions of higher education in Georgia. Each has something unique to offer students, whether one is looking to attend a major Division 1 university in Atlanta, a private arts school in Savannah or one of the many community colleges dotted across the state. With so many options, prospective students may be worried about choosing the right Georgia college. This page provides the information needed to make a smart decision, from college rankings to planning resources to cost comparisons. Continue reading and begin researching colleges in Georgia.

Georgia's Best Colleges

We calculated our rankings of this year's top Georgia colleges using criteria such as tuition cost, alumni earnings, grant and scholarship availability, student-to-teacher ratio and more. This list provides an unbiased, objective picture of which colleges in Georgia best prepare students to succeed after graduation. Prospective applicants can use these rankings as a starting place to begin narrowing down the field and an ongoing reference point when researching individual schools.

2-Year Programs

4-Year Programs

Find and Compare Colleges in Georgia

While tuition and fees are a primary concern for many students, there are other factors to consider when researching Georgia colleges. Some students may be concerned with class size or acceptance rate, while others are concerned with location and specific degree programs. This search tool allows students to narrow their options and compare results according to the features that are most important to them.

Planning Programs for Aspiring Georgia College Students

Not all Georgia students plan or are able to attend college. There are many reasons for this, including language barriers, lack of higher education in the family, and socio-economic obstacles. Many organizations and programs exist in Georgia to help at-risk and poor students find entry into college, which will likely improve their career prospects and earning potential.

This grant combines $12 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education with $6 million in matching state funds. The grant targets students underrepresented in postsecondary education, and adults at risk of not finishing college. The goal of the grant is to increase the number of these students prepared for, informed about and motivated for postsecondary education.

Empowered Youth Programs is an academic enrichment program for students in Clarke and surrounding counties. The program was started by Dr. Deryl Bailey at the University of Georgia, and initially targeted African American youth grades 9 to 12. Now, the focus includes young women, too. It provides group counseling and developmental support for kids, with the vision that everyone should have access to a college education.

GA College 411 is an online portal offering numerous resources for students preparing for college. It walks its members through a timeline and checklist for college prep, has a search function for looking at programs and majors, and a detailed list of schools.

The Realizing Education Can Happen program is a need-based scholarship and mentorship program that encourages middle-school-aged students to pursue their educational goals. The program provides students with academic, social and financial support to attend college, graduate and enter the workforce.

Determining Georgia College Costs

There are many factors that affect the cost of college in Georgia, but the two main things are residency and financial aid. These two factors can greatly influence the overall bill of a degree program, as well as credit cost. Students considering colleges in Georgia can use the charts below to compare schools' average tuition rates with financial aid availability, both statewide and nationally.

Source: CollegeBoard

Source: IPEDS

* Institutional aid represents grant and scholarship funds directly awarded by a postsecondary institution.

* Financial aid data represents 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Georgia Colleges With Lowest Net Price

How much does school in Georgia cost compared to schools around the country? We've calculated the net cost - tuition cost minus gift financial aid - of Georgia colleges compared them with other schools nationwide. These are the top six most affordable schools in the state.

Georgia College Net Price vs. National Average

Average Annual Net Price

$15,541

$18,073

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Georgia Colleges for Best Post-Grad Earnings

Students ultimately determine how much they make after graduation; how well they apply themselves in their programs, which interests they pursue and how well they use their network contribute. Nonetheless, some schools consistently turn out graduates that make more than others. Here are the six colleges in Georgia that have the highest-paid alumni ten years down the road. One can also compare Georgia's top-earners' salaries with the national average.

Georgia Alumni Salaries vs. National Average

Annual Median Earnings
10 Years After Entering College

$37,396

$42,759

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Best Georgia Colleges for Minimal Student Loan Debt

No one wants to graduate college and begin a career with a mountain of student loan debt. There are many federal and private grants and scholarships available to students. Often schools and academic departments have their own financial aid programs that award scholarships to applicants. This gift aid helps reduce the amount of loans needed to pay for college. Here are the six schools in Georgia that graduate students with the least amount of student loan debt.

Georgia College Grad Debt Vs. National Average

Median Federal Student
Loan Debt After Graduation

$22,908

$23,145

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

A Look at Georgia's Cost of Living

Tuition and books are not the only costs that contribute to a college: students must consider housing, groceries, transportation and health care when calculating a budget. Fortunately, Georgia's cost-of-living is about two percent below than the national average. Check out the illustration below to see specific numbers for categories like utilities, food and gas in Georgia's biggest cities.

Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research

Accreditation at Georgia Colleges

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is the regional accrediting body for Georgia institutions of higher education. The SACSCC is responsible for holding Georgia colleges and universities to educational and instructional standards laid out by state, regional and national expectations. Without an accrediting body, there is no guarantee that a degree or certification program meets any kind of standard or curriculum requirement. While the SACSCC certifies many schools in Georgia, some individual degree programs are certified by industry-specific accrediting bodies. For example:

• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ensures Kennesaw State and Georgia State University provide the proper nursing education.
• The Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation certifies the education programs at Albany State University and Augusta University.

Popular Cities to Attend College in Georgia

Atlanta

As the capital and largest city in the state, Atlanta is home to 16 colleges and universities. Economic industries of impact for the city include logistics - it's home to one of the busiest airports in the world -business and professional services, and media operations. It offers all of the perks of a large city, but students can find quieter settings nestled on Atlanta college and university campuses.

College Name	School Type	Annual Net Price	Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After College Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.
Emory University	Private not-for-profit	$21,681	$39,400
The largest private school in the state, Emory is home to nearly 15,000 students. It has four undergraduate schools with hundreds of degree programs, and seven graduate schools, including those for law, medicine, nursing and theology. Admission is competitive: The College of Arts and Sciences admitted only 25 percent of applicants to the 2020 class. It does, though, have a large international student base composed of 3,800 international students from 100 countries.
Georgia State University	Public	$19,866	$41,800
GSU offers 250 degree programs through eight colleges to, as of fall 2015, 32,000 undergraduate students. There are many impressive points within the colleges at GSU, including its nursing program, which is one of the few in the country to offer a nursing PhD. Also worth noting is that GSU offers the largest respiratory therapy program in the state, and the first physical therapy program. Graduates of this PT program achieved a 100 percent pass-rate on the licensure exam, 7 percent above than the national average.
Georgia Institute of Technology	Public	$11,053	$74,000
Georgia Tech has a long tradition of excellence in technology fields and holds many state and national rankings. GT awards more engineering degrees to women than any other school in the nation, and is one of the top colleges graduating underrepresented minorities in engineering, architecture, and computer science. Many of its programs - including industrial, aerospace and civil engineering - rank among the top five undergraduate programs in the country.

Savannah

Savannah is Georgia's oldest city and its third-largest metropolitan area, with nearly 380,000 people. Its industries include manufacturing, military and tourism. Its port is one of the most important along the Atlantic coast. It served important roles in the Civil War, the 1996 Olympics and the civil rights movement. The city has ten universities and a number of technical schools for students to explore. Three are highlighted below.

College Name	School Type	Annual Net Price	Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After College Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.
Armstrong Atlantic State University	Public	$14,795	$39,400
Armstrong has four colleges in education, health professionals, liberal arts, and science and technology. Through these colleges, the university offers more than 100 degree programs of which students can take advantage. Seven thousand students are enrolled each year. In the fall of 2015, women made up 67 percent of the school's enrollments, and 87 percent of the state's female student population. The student body also represents 68 other countries. More than 85 percent of its students received some form of financial aid.
Savannah State University	Public	$26,861	$48,200
Savannah State University is the oldest public historically black college in the state. It offers 30 bachelor's degrees and six graduate programs. Total enrollment is less than 5,000 but it is a NCAA Division I athletic school and with more than 75 clubs. Important to note is the fact that 90 percent of its students are on some form of scholarship or financial aid. The university's mission is to ?develop members of a global society through high-quality instruction, scholarship, research, service, and community involvement.?
Savannah Technical College	Public	$16,523	$42,100
Savannah Technical College is the city's community college. The school offers nearly 150 programs, ranging from aviation technology and public service to health sciences and business. Each semester more than 4,500 students enroll to take classes, whether full-time or part-time. The mission of the college is to provide world-class education, skills training and lifelong learning opportunities through the delivery of degrees, certificates and adult education.

Source: College Scorecard

More Information on Georgia Colleges

Students may need a little more information before deciding which Georgia colleges and universities suit them best. Each school has a wealth of information for prospective applicants, but here are some additional helpful resources.

Georgia Higher Education Alliance

This member-based, non-profit organization is a consortium of Georgia colleges and universities that provide degree programs that support the state's working adult students. Regardless of the desired education outcome, be it a certificate or a four-year degree, GAHEA matches students with the appropriate institutional program to meet their needs.

Georgia Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium

The GAIPEC is committed to ensuring that all Georgia students have access to college regardless of intellectual or development disability. The organization is based in the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University.

Georgia Student Finance Commission

The GSFC helps students achieve their educational goals through scholarships and financial aid, and advocates for affordable higher education.

University System of Georgia

Find contact information for all Georgia colleges and universities. The University also has resources for faculty, parents and prospective students.

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