With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Georgia ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 44 colleges and universities across Georgia to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. Recent students who earned a associate degree in Georgia entered the job market making an average of $41,147 while those in the top 22 schools on our list made an average of $48,506.
Starting Salary ( 36985 to 66689 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Georgia have accumulated an average of $10,901 in student debt.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Southern Regional Technical College tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Georgia for overall quality. Southwest Georgia Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Thomasville, Georgia. It awarded 356 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Southwest Georgia Technical College is $65,773 during the early years of their career.
The excellent associate degree programs at Lanier Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Georgia. Lanier Technical College is located in Gainesville, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 396 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Lanier Technical College make an average of $43,454 a year.
The excellent associate degree programs at Oxford College of Emory University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Georgia. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Oxford, Georgia, and it awarded 441 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Oxford College make an average of $7,808 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $38,430.
Out of the 44 associate degree schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Marietta, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 811 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Chattahoochee Technical College is $52,430 during the early years of their career.
The excellent associate degree programs at Athens Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Georgia. Located in Athens, Georgia, the small public school handed out 420 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Athens Technical College is $55,212 during the early years of their career.
Gwinnett Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 782 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from GTC make an average of $47,282 a year.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #7. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Rome, Georgia that handed out 523 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Georgia Northwestern Technical College make an average of $52,279 a year.
Ogeechee Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Ogeechee Technical College is a public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 216 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Ogeechee Technical College is $41,821 during the early years of their career.
Augusta Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. This small public school is located in Augusta, Georgia, and it awarded 306 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Augusta Technical College make an average of $53,394 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, Coastal Pines Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Coastal Pines Technical College is a public institution located in Waycross, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 147 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Central Georgia Technical College landed the #11 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. CGTC is a public institution located in Warner Robins, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,042 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from CGTC is $50,403 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Columbus Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Columbus Technical College is a public institution located in Columbus, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 481 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Columbus Technical College is $72,650 during the early years of their career.
Georgia State University-Perimeter College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. This fairly large public school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 2,323 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Georgia State University-Perimeter College go into careers with an average salary of $37,117 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,746.
University of North Georgia did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #14. University of North Georgia is a fairly large public school located in Dahlonega, Georgia that handed out 650 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from UNG go into careers with an average salary of $24,817 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,853 in student loans.
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Griffin, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 486 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Southern Crescent Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $51,396 during the early years of their career.
Herzing University - Atlanta did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #16. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 117 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,981 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,000 in student loans.
Savannah Technical College landed the #17 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Savannah Tech is a public institution located in Savannah, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 336 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Savannah Tech make an average of $54,090 a year.
With a ranking of #18, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, the small public school handed out 231 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is $69,235 during the early years of their career.
Georgia Highlands College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #19. Georgia Highlands College is a small public school located in Rome, Georgia that handed out 706 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from GHC make an average of $39,153 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,046 in student loans.
With a ranking of #20, DeVry University - Georgia did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. DeVry University - Georgia is a small private for-profit school located in Decatur, Georgia that handed out 102 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from DeVry University - Georgia go into careers with an average salary of $40,224 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,786 after getting their degree.
West Georgia Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. West Georgia Technical College is located in Waco, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 360 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from West Georgia Technical College make an average of $60,359 a year.
With a ranking of #22, Savannah State University did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Savannah, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 56 students in 2021-2022.
Albany Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Albany, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 280 students in 2021-2022.
Southeastern Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Southeastern Technical College is located in Vidalia, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 109 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Southeastern Technical College make an average of $62,967 a year.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Tifton, Georgia, the small public school awarded 239 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from ABAC Tifton make an average of $52,283 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,378.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
