2026 Best Value Education Schools in Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Education Schools
Our analysis ranked South Georgia Technical College the best value for a degree in education in Georgia. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. Students from in state pay about $3,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Typical student debt for education graduates is $10,423. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Typical student debt for education graduates is $9,086. Education graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $44,007 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Northwestern Technical College one of the best values for education. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $8,492. Early-career education graduates make about $21,740. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Atlanta Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Education graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. That is a strong return on a $17,655 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned it the #5 place for education. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Valdosta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $40,452. Set against $10,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Georgia Technical College landed the #7 spot for education value this year. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. Students borrow a median of $12,279 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from North Georgia Technical College generally make around $34,133. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Albany Technical College came in at #8 for value in education this year. Located in the city of Albany, Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,364, while out-of-state students pay about $5,932. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Albany Technical College generally make around $35,895. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt.
Dalton State College came in at #9 for value in education this year. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,336, compared with $10,656 for out-of-state students. Education graduates carry a median of $18,400 in student loans. Education graduates of Dalton State College earn a median of $39,889 early in their careers. Set against $18,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #10 spot for education value this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $45,062. Set against $17,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,016 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $11,693. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins generally make around $39,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Georgia Technical College earned the #12 position for value in education this year. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $16,936. Early-career education graduates make about $39,922. That is a strong return on a $16,936 median debt.
Lanier Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,980, while out-of-state students pay about $7,190. Students borrow a median of $12,278 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $37,118. That is a strong return on a $12,278 median debt.
Athens Technical College placed #14 among the best values for education. Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $3,390 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,958. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $41,631. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Tifton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $10,588. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College admits about 76% of applicants.
Columbus Technical College came in at #16 for value in education this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,052, while out-of-state students pay about $7,262. Education graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Early-career education graduates make about $37,936. Set against $15,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Georgia earned the #17 position for value in education this year. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $47,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Clayton State University came in at #18 for value in education this year. Set in the suburb of Morrow, Clayton State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,532 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for education graduates is $35,088. Early-career education graduates make about $42,114. Set against $35,088 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon State College landed the #19 spot for education value this year. Gordon State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Barnesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,628, while out-of-state students pay about $10,948. Students borrow a median of $23,073 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Gordon State College generally make around $40,644. Set against $23,073 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gordon State College admits about 86% of applicants.
South Georgia State College came in at #20 for value in education this year. Located in the town of Douglas, South Georgia State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,314, with out-of-state students paying around $10,274. Students borrow a median of $17,518 to complete the education program here. Education graduates of South Georgia State College earn a median of $50,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College earned the #21 position for value in education this year. Located in the suburb of Clarkston, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,404, compared with $5,954 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,716 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $42,073. That is a strong return on a $15,716 median debt.
Valdosta State University placed #22 among the best values for education. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the education program here. Early-career education graduates make about $53,118. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Savannah State University placed #23 among the best values for education. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,750, with out-of-state students paying around $19,043. Education graduates carry a median of $31,576 in student loans. Education graduates of Savannah State University earn a median of $34,489 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Georgia State College landed the #24 spot for education value this year. Set in the town of Swainsboro, East Georgia State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,900 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,860. Education graduates carry a median of $15,760 in student loans. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from East Georgia State College generally make around $54,784. That is a strong return on a $15,760 median debt.
Georgia Gwinnett College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value education schools. Georgia Gwinnett College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,532, while out-of-state students pay about $13,844. Students borrow a median of $21,590 to complete the education program here. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Georgia Gwinnett College generally make around $48,203. Set against $21,590 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s education value ranking:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 70 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Education](/majors/education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong education education at a price that pays off.
