by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Georgia, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **68** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 68 colleges using more than 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.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus this year in Georgia. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Median early-career earnings reach $83,560. The median student debt is $24,323.
The strong outcomes at Emory University earned it the #2 place in Georgia. Emory University is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,280. Median early-career earnings reach $67,840. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the top colleges in Georgia. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
Emory University Oxford College came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Georgia. Emory University Oxford College is a private not-for-profit school based in Oxford, GA. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $7,808. Students borrow a median of $11,260 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Georgia College And State University earned it the #5 place in Georgia. Georgia College And State University is a public school based in Milledgeville, GA. Georgia College And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,186, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. Median early-career earnings reach $51,197. Georgia College And State University students take on a median of $24,412 in debt.
Mercer University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Macon, GA, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,699. Graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans.
Berry College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Mount Berry, GA, Berry College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,486. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,785. Typical student debt is $24,797.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia landed the #8 spot in Georgia this year. This private for-profit school is set in Sandy Springs, GA. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,240. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Typical student debt is $39,146.
Columbia Theological Seminary ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Decatur, GA, Columbia Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,694.
Spelman College landed the #10 spot in Georgia this year. Spelman College is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Students from in state pay about $31,556 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,217. The median student debt is $26,397.
Covenant College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Covenant College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lookout Mountain, GA. Covenant College graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,040. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,404 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,700.
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Savannah, GA, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Savannah College Of Art And Design posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Students from in state pay about $41,630 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $40,671. Typical student debt is $26,346.
Kennesaw State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Kennesaw State University is a public school based in Kennesaw, GA. Kennesaw State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Kennesaw State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,824. Students borrow a median of $27,004 to complete a degree here.
Augusta University did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Augusta, GA. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,414, with out-of-state students paying around $24,734. Median early-career earnings reach $56,168. The median student debt is $25,745.
University Of North Georgia did well this year, earning the #15 position. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,714. University Of North Georgia students take on a median of $21,439 in debt.
Agnes Scott College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Decatur, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,604. Early-career graduates earn a median of $28,191. Typical student debt is $26,811.
Georgia Southern University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Statesboro, GA, Georgia Southern University is a public institution. Georgia Southern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,531. Graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Piedmont College landed the #18 spot in Georgia this year. Located in Demorest, GA, Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,567. The median student debt is $29,975.
University Of West Georgia ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. University Of West Georgia is a public school based in Carrollton, GA. University Of West Georgia posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,432 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,789 to complete a degree here.
Georgia State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,103. Students borrow a median of $26,091 to complete a degree here.
Oglethorpe University landed the #21 spot in Georgia this year. Located in Atlanta, GA, Oglethorpe University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $47,590. Median early-career earnings reach $34,113. Students borrow a median of $26,800 to complete a degree here.
Lagrange College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lagrange, GA. Lagrange College graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $35,400. Lagrange College graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,126. Lagrange College students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Gwinnett Technical College landed the #23 spot in Georgia this year. This public school is set in Lawrenceville, GA. In-state tuition and fees average $3,524, with out-of-state students paying around $6,092. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,288. Students borrow a median of $18,048 to complete a degree here.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #24 spot in Georgia this year. Located in Rome, GA, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Georgia Northwestern Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,229. Georgia Northwestern Technical College students take on a median of $8,492 in debt.
Morehouse College placed #25 among the best colleges in Georgia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,893. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,093. Typical student debt is $26,199.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.