Best Colleges in Georgia

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The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) projects that over 19.7 million students will likely attend college in 2021 to gain the skills, certificates, and degrees needed for career entry and advancement. According to NCES, about 7.5 million students are 25 years old or older. These learners are often drawn to the flexibility of evening classes and online learning.

In Georgia, bachelor's degree-holders 25 years or older earn a median annual salary of $51,920, while individuals with high school diplomas earn about $29,440. Many of Georgia's fastest growing industries, including healthcare, social work, and financial services, require degrees.

The following guide highlights the 10 best colleges in Georgia to help you pick the school that best fits your budget, schedule, and goals.

What Are Best Colleges in Georgia? Here Are Our Top 10:

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#1 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA
#2 University of Georgia Athens, GA
#3 Emory University Atlanta, GA
#4 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA
#5 Clayton State University Morrow, GA
#6 Wesleyan College Macon, GA
#7 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
#8 Columbus State University Columbus, GA
#9 Spelman College Atlanta, GA
#10 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA

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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

How We Rank Schools

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At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you will make. We want to help you navigate the college selection process by offering school rankings that are transparent, inclusive, and relevant for online students.

Our rankings are grounded in a few guiding principles and use the latest statistical data available from trusted sources. Read our Ranking Methodology. We hope our approach helps you find the school that is best for you.

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Best Colleges in Georgia

  1. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
    Location

    Atlanta, GA

    Tuition

    $16950

    A public research institution located in Atlanta, Georgia Tech teaches nearly 40,000 students at its main campus, online, and at international campuses in France and China.

    One of the best colleges in Georgia, Georgia Tech offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs across six colleges. Notable areas of study include architecture, music technology, computational media, and international affairs.

    Undergraduate tuition costs about $5,000 per semester for full-time, in-state students and about $16,000 per semester for full-time, out-of-state students. Graduate tuition varies from program to program. First-year applicants must submit transcripts and essays.

  2. University of Georgia
    Location

    Athens, GA

    Tuition

    $15539

    Located in Athens, UGA officially opened its doors in 1801, making it one of the oldest public institutions in the U.S. Notable degree programs at UGA include a bachelor of science in forest resources, a doctor of veterinary medicine, and a bachelor of science in avian biology.

    Tuition varies depending on a student's state of residency, enrollment status, and degree program. It ranges from roughly $3,000-$16,000 per semester for undergraduates. Graduate tuition rates range from $370 per credit to $1,589 per credit.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts and at least one letter of recommendation. Depending on their program, graduate applicants may be asked to submit transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, and additional supplemental material.

  3. Emory University
    Location

    Atlanta, GA

    A private institution located in Atlanta, Emory opened its doors in 1836 and currently maintains three campuses. The university offers nearly 250 degree programs, including a doctorate in biomedical engineering, a doctorate in cancer biology, a bachelor of business administration in entrepreneurship, and a master of divinity.

    General undergraduate tuition costs about $53,000 a year. However, undergraduates enrolled in Emory's business school or school of nursing pay different rates. Graduate tuition varies depending on the program.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts, short-answer essays, a counselor's recommendation, and two teacher recommendations. Graduate admission requirements vary by program.

  4. Kennesaw State University
    Location

    Kennesaw, GA

    Tuition

    $17618

    A public institution, Kennesaw State teaches more than 41,000 students across two metro Atlanta campuses and through its online programs. The university offers more than 160 degree programs, including 90 undergraduate degrees. Notable areas of study include apparel textile technology, exercise science, manufacturing operations, and geospatial sciences.

    Undergraduate tuition costs $185 per credit for in-state students and $654 per credit for out-of-state students. Graduate tuition costs $296 per credit for in-state students and $1,066 per credit for out-of-state students. Online programs cost $185 per credit for undergraduates and $383 per credit for graduate students.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts demonstrating a minimum GPA of 2.5. Graduate applicants must submit transcripts and various supplemental materials, which vary depending on the program of study.

  5. Clayton State University
    Location

    Morrow, GA

    Tuition

    $10326

    A public institution located in Morrow, CSU first opened in 1969 and currently teaches over 7,000 students annually. CSU offers nearly 50 degree programs across four colleges. Notable degree options include a bachelor of science in dental hygiene, a bachelor of arts in film production, and a master of science in supply chain analytics. CSU also offers over 20 online degree programs.

    Undergraduate tuition costs $169 per credit for in-state or students and $616 per credit for out-of-state students. Graduate tuition varies based on residency, enrollment status, and the specific course of study; however, it typically ranges from $567-$807 per credit.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts. Graduate applicants must submit transcripts and supplemental materials, such as essays and test scores.

  6. Wesleyan College
    Location

    Macon, GA

    A private institution located in Macon, Wesleyan operates as a women-only college and currently teaches about 700 students each year.

    Notable undergraduate areas of study include applied data analysis, environmental studies and sustainability, international business, and neuroscience. Wesleyan also offers six graduate programs, including a master of business administration, a master of arts in industrial-organizational psychology, and a master of science in nonprofit management. Students can complete three programs entirely online in business, accounting, and applied psychology.

    Full-time, on-campus tuition costs $12,595 per semester. Part-time, on-campus students pay $596 per credit, and online students pay $448 per credit. First-year applicants must submit transcripts. Graduate admission requirements vary from program to program.

  7. Georgia Southern University
    Location

    Statesboro, GA

    Tuition

    $15435

    A public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia Southern first opened its doors in 1908. Today, the school teaches nearly 27,000 students annually across three campuses and through online programs.

    Georgia Southern offers more than 150 degree and certificate options across 10 schools and colleges. Notable areas of study include exercise science, interior design, Chinese language, and respiratory therapy.

    Undergraduate tuition costs $182 per credit for in-state and online students and $642 per credit for out-of-state students who attend classes in person. Graduate tuition costs $277 per credit for in-state students and $1,106 for out-of-state students. Online graduate tuition ranges from $277-$739 per credit.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts demonstrating a minimum GPA of 2.5, and some majors require a secondary application. Graduate admission requirements vary by program.

  8. Columbus State University
    Location

    Columbus, GA

    Tuition

    $11316

    A public institution located in the city of the same name, Columbus State opened in 1958 on the site of a former dairy farm. The university offers over 170 degree programs across five colleges.

    Notable areas of study include Earth and space science, music performance, and robotics engineering. CSU offers more than 40 of its degree programs online, including a master of education in elementary education, a bachelor of science in sociology, and a master of science in applied computer science.

    Undergraduate tuition costs $182 per credit for in-state students and $642 per credit for out-of-state students. Graduate tuition generally costs $210 per credit for in-state students and $817 per credit for out-of-state students, although some programs charge different rates.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts. In addition to transcripts, graduate applicants may be asked to submit GRE or GMAT scores and other supplemental material.

  9. Spelman College
    Location

    Atlanta, GA

    Located in Atlanta, Spelman College is a private school that traces its roots back to 1881. Known then as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, its first courses were offered in a church basement. The school is a member of the Women's College Coalition and is recognized as a Historically Black College.

    Spelman College offers undergraduate degrees in more than 30 areas of study, including comparative women's studies, dance performance and choreography, photography, and documentary filmmaking. Students can also earn minors in topics like African diaspora studies, Japan studies, food studies, and more.

    Part-time students pay $1,070 per credit, while students enrolled in 12-20 credits per semester pay a flat-rate tuition of $11,674. Applicants must submit transcripts, an essay, and two letters of recommendation.

  10. Georgia College & State University
    Location

    Milledgeville, GA

    Tuition

    $20478

    A public institution located in Milledgeville, Georgia College opened in 1891 and currently teaches more than 6,600 students annually. Notable degree programs at the school include a master of science in athletic training, a bachelor of arts in geography, a bachelor of arts in rhetoric, and a master of science in health and human performance. Online programs include five nursing degrees and a master of business administration.

    Georgia College charges flat-rate tuition. In-state undergraduate students who take less than seven credits in a semester pay $2,222, whereas out-of-state undergraduate students pay $7,918. When enrolled in 7 or more credits per term, in-state undergraduates pay $3,754, while out-of-state undergraduates pay $13,344. Graduate tuition costs $294 per credit for in-state students and $1,047 per credit for out-of-state students.

    First-year applicants must submit transcripts and two essays. Graduate admission requirements vary by program, but most require transcripts, GRE or GMAT scores, and letters of recommendation.

Top Schools in Georgia