Best Community Colleges in Georgia

With campuses in Chatham, Liberty, and Effingham counties, Savannah Technical College serves over 4,500 students. The school focuses on market-driven career education and provides low tuition prices based on residency status. Students at STC can receive federal and state financial aid, as well as institutional funding. Award opportunities include the Brenda L. Rucker Champion Scholarship for African Americans interested in aviation and the Career Advancement Program Scholarship for returning students.

The school delivers associate-level training in areas like construction management; early childhood care and education; and hotel, restaurant, and tourism management. STC stands out from other community colleges in Georgia by offering an associate degree in historic preservation and restoration. The 71-credit program consists of classes like architectural print reading and project and small business management. Candidates also delve into material science with emphasis on mansory, plaster, and stained glass. STC provides technical certificate programs for industries like aviation technology and precision manufacturing.

West Georgia Technical College fosters the economic development of the city of Waco and its surrounding communities by developing a skilled workforce in collaboration with businesses and industry leaders. The school features flexible course schedules and an accessible admissions process. Prospective students need to furnish a high school diploma or an equivalent and demonstrate postsecondary readiness through standardized testing. Learners can access a variety of financial aid opportunities including the HOPE Grant, which provides funding to students pursuing trade careers.

WGTC operates five transfer programs with institutions within the University System of Georgia. Students pick from associate degrees in nursing, general business, criminal justice, and interdisciplinary studies. They can also enroll in a psychology program, which prepares them for careers as mental health counselors, human service coordinators, and scientific researchers. This community college in Georgia provides certificates and diplomas for technical occupations like commercial truck driving and medical coding. Students can also train in precision manufacturing and maintenance by enrolling in a program that offers specializations like industrial instrumentation and mechatronic systems.

Albany Technical College enrolls over 5,000 students and predominantly serves a seven-county area in southwest Georgia. Learners pick from academic and career training programs in seven areas, including public safety, logistics and operations, and healthcare. They can also earn certificates centered on construction and manufacturing, with options for building maintenance, masonry, and automotive technology. Furthermore, ATC delivers an associate of interdisciplinary studies program especially for dual-enrollment high school students.

As one of the best community colleges in Georgia, ATC offers 30 fully online programs through Blackboard. Options include an associate of cybersecurity and a diploma in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management. The college also features two fire officer certificates. Alternatively, students can take individual remote classes for a hybrid learning experience.

ATC students benefit from comprehensive career resources that consist of job fairs, career assessment services, and internship opportunities. Working professionals can pursue continuing education through the Center for Business Solutions, such as a 13-week Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program.

Founded in 1958 as a small vocational school, Athens Technical College now serves over 4,000 students. The school supports learners of all backgrounds, including students who want to take classes at ATC to transfer to their home institution. High school juniors and seniors can access dual-enrollment opportunities if they possess a minimum 2.0 GPA. ATC also delivers distance education through Blackboard, with options for individual courses and full programs.

Students may earn technical certificates in expanding industries like physical therapy, automotive collision repair, and practical nursing. Candidates can also obtain a certificate in interior design that prepares them for careers with wholesalers and consulting firms. Additional programs include precision machining and manufacturing. Here, students can train in specialized areas like grinder control, CNC machine tools, and lathe and mill operations. For individuals interested in transfer-oriented programs, ATC offers associate degrees in veterinary technology, bioscience, and paralegal studies.

Augusta Technical College bolsters the economic and community development of its five-county service area through accessible educational programming. The college enrolls 4,400 students every semester and boasts a 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Augusta Tech bases its affordable tuition prices on residency status, and students can access generous state grants and institutional scholarships. Over 95% of graduates secure employment or pursue advanced academics in their field.

Augusta Tech offers programs in five broad areas that include allied health sciences and nursing. Students can earn technical certificates in magnetic resonance imaging, personal training, and healthcare assisting, as well as associate degrees in areas like pharmacy technology and respiratory care. Learners can also earn associate credentials that prepare them to work as registered nurses.

Augusta Tech delivers comprehensive agribusiness training. In addition to a general associate degree, students can pursue specialized credentials in agribusiness management and policy. The college also provides law enforcement training and continuing education.

Located in Clarkston, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is one of the oldest and most respected postsecondary institutions in the state. The school operates a holistic admissions process that considers a candidate's academic history and potential. Students pay low tuition rates based on residency and citizenship status. Through the HOPE Career Grant, GPTC offers tuition-free education that enables students to earn credentials in areas like health information management coding and early childhood exceptionalities.

Students can obtain associate degrees in 18-24 months in areas such as human resource management, criminal justice technology, and computer programming. Learners may craft their own degree plan by enrolling in the interdisciplinary studies program. The college also delivers associate training for prospective clinical laboratory technicians and opticians.

GPTC provides diverse diplomas and technical certificates. Candidates can pursue training in areas like legal administration, pipe welding, and basic law enforcement. The school also delivers quick-track options for commercial truck driving.

Based in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College serves approximately 9,000 students across nearly 140 certificate, diploma, and associate programs. High school students can get a head start on their college education by dual enrolling in either campus-based or online programs. GTC offers dedicated support to veterans, who can earn college credits for their military experience and enjoy access to distinct scholarships and grants.

Students can pursue training in six broad areas of study, including public and professional services. Options include automotive technology, criminal justice, and heavy diesel technology. GTC also hosts the Mercedes-Benz College Automotive Program, which facilitates internship opportunities and allows students to earn an associate degree.

Additional programming includes options in commercial construction management, culinary arts, game development, and nursing. Learners can also enroll in a certificate program for clinical research, taking classes like applied statistics, technical communication, and regulatory procedures. Graduates are prepared to occupy entry-level positions within major hospitals and contract research organizations.

Central Georgia Technical College is headquartered in Warner Robins but serves a diverse student population over an 11-county area. The school provides academic programs, workforce development training, continuing education, and dual-enrollment options. CGTC also helps learners obtain their GED through flexible classes and test preparation services. Additionally, the college offers accelerated training opportunities that enable candidates to earn their GED and a technical certificate in under two semesters.

The school's catalog includes programs in fields like banking and finance, barbering, criminal justice, and dental hygiene. CGTC also offers an aircraft structural technology diploma, wherein coursework includes blueprint reading, aerospace quality management, and aircraft metallurgy. Additionally, students develop transferable skills in applied mathematics and interpersonal communication.

CGTC features three general studies options that allow students to complete their core requirements before pursuing specialized training at a four-year institution. Alternatively, they can earn an associate of applied science in interdisciplinary studies, crafting an individual degree plan to support career objectives. The school also offers an associate-completion track for candidates who already have a technical diploma or certificate.

Chattahoochee Technical College enrolls 10,500 students across eight campuses. The school also offers online education opportunities powered by Blackboard. Distance learners can earn full credentials remotely or they can take individual classes to create a flexible hybrid experience. Through its Economic Development Division, CTC offers noncredit skill training classes to help working professionals advance their careers. CTC is one of the few community colleges in Georgia to facilitate study abroad, enabling students to travel for education and cultural enrichment.

The majority of programs at CTC center on business and technical studies. Students can earn associate degrees in logistics and supply chain management, environmental technology, and early childhood care and education. They may also pursue cybersecurity training and specialize in either Cisco, Microsoft, or Unix/Linux operations. Additional certificate options are available in fields like television production technology, carpentry, and commercial truck driving.

CTC's health sciences programs include emergency medical services and healthcare management. Students can also train to become practical nurses and nursing assistants.

Perimeter College offers 30 flexible academic programs for students who want to ease their way into higher education. As part of Georgia State University, Perimeter focuses on transfer pathways that enable learners to earn an affordable associate degree before pursuing baccalaureate credentials at GSU or another four-year institution. Program options include business administration, kinesiology, and engineering. Students may also earn a political science associate degree, which prepares them to occupy public service and legal positions.

Additional programs cover the spectrum of the humanities, fine arts, and life sciences. Learners can pursue an associate in homeland security, which trains them to respond to natural disasters and terrorist activities. The school also delivers nursing programs for working LPNs and candidates without relevant work experience. Like other community colleges in Georgia, Perimeter provides online learning opportunities through Blackboard.

Students pay affordable tuition rates based on residency status and program type. Available financial aid opportunities include awards specifically for engineering and allied health degree candidates. Learners with at least a 3.5 GPA and adequate test scores can enroll in the honors program, which comes with benefits like distinct scholarships, priority enrollment, and one-on-one advising.