by our College Data Analytics TeamEmory University Oxford College ranks #1 of 69 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Georgia ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 34% six-year graduation rate and $52,061 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Georgia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **69** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 69 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Emory University Oxford College leads the 69 ranked colleges in Georgia, followed by University Of North Georgia (#2) and Lagrange College (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than Emory University Oxford College this year in Georgia. Based in Oxford, GA, Emory University Oxford College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,280. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $7,808. Graduates carry a median of $11,260 in student loans.
University Of North Georgia came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Georgia. Set in Dahlonega, GA, University Of North Georgia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, with out-of-state students paying around $16,956. Median early-career earnings reach $43,714. Graduates carry a median of $21,439 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Lagrange College earned it the #3 place in Georgia. Based in Lagrange, GA, Lagrange College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lagrange College graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,400. Median early-career earnings reach $52,126. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Gwinnett Technical College earned it the #4 place in Georgia. Set in Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,524, while out-of-state students pay about $6,092. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,288. Gwinnett Technical College students take on a median of $18,048 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Southern University one of the top colleges in Georgia. Georgia Southern University is a public school based in Statesboro, GA. Georgia Southern University graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,531. Typical student debt is $26,500.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Rome, GA. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Median early-career earnings reach $41,229. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete a degree here.
Chattahoochee Technical College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Marietta, GA, Chattahoochee Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete a degree here.
Georgia Highlands College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Rome, GA, Georgia Highlands College is a public institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,080. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,814 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,134 to complete a degree here.
Dalton State College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Dalton, GA. Dalton State College graduates 24% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,336, while out-of-state students pay about $10,656. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,654. Typical student debt is $14,955.
College Of Coastal Georgia landed the #10 spot in Georgia this year. College Of Coastal Georgia is a public school based in Brunswick, GA. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,616, with out-of-state students paying around $10,936. College Of Coastal Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,858. College Of Coastal Georgia students take on a median of $19,240 in debt.
Thomas University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Thomasville, GA, Thomas University is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas University posts a six-year graduation rate of 7%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,773. Typical student debt is $28,454.
Georgia Southwestern State University landed the #12 spot in Georgia this year. Based in Americus, GA, Georgia Southwestern State University is a public institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $16,572. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,428. Georgia Southwestern State University students take on a median of $28,245 in debt.
Columbus State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Columbus State University is a public school based in Columbus, GA. Columbus State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 43%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,898, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,154. Columbus State University students take on a median of $28,493 in debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #14 spot in Georgia this year. Set in Griffin, GA, Southern Crescent Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,516 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Southern Crescent Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,062. Southern Crescent Technical College students take on a median of $17,619 in debt.
Brenau University placed #15 among the best colleges in Georgia. Brenau University is a private not-for-profit school based in Gainesville, GA. Brenau University posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. Students from in state pay about $33,757 in tuition and fees. Brenau University graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,258. Students borrow a median of $36,299 to complete a degree here.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Warner Robins, GA, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, with out-of-state students paying around $6,016. Median early-career earnings reach $39,765. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins students take on a median of $11,693 in debt.
Georgia Military College Milledgeville did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Milledgeville, GA, Georgia Military College Milledgeville is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,605. Median early-career earnings reach $29,788. Graduates carry a median of $13,587 in student loans.
Georgia Perimeter College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Perimeter College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,104, while out-of-state students pay about $10,064. Median early-career earnings reach $53,142. Students borrow a median of $20,617 to complete a degree here.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Thomasville, GA, Southern Regional Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Median early-career earnings reach $44,007. Southern Regional Technical College students take on a median of $9,086 in debt.
Augusta Technical College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Augusta, GA, Augusta Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,282, with out-of-state students paying around $7,492. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,892 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $11,400.
Middle Georgia State University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Middle Georgia State University is a public school based in Macon, GA. About 24% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $5,038, while out-of-state students pay about $16,390. Median early-career earnings reach $48,207. The median student debt is $26,976.
Lanier Technical College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Gainesville, GA. In-state tuition and fees average $3,980, with out-of-state students paying around $7,190. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,118. Students borrow a median of $12,278 to complete a degree here.
Athens Technical College placed #23 among the best colleges in Georgia. Based in Athens, GA, Athens Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,390, compared with $5,958 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $41,631. The median student debt is $9,500.
Reinhardt University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Waleska, GA, Reinhardt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Reinhardt University graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,074. Reinhardt University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,837. Typical student debt is $27,860.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Waycross, GA, Coastal Pines Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,812 to complete a degree here.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 69 in Georgia. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.