College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2024 Best Colleges in Georgia

68 Colleges
$42,621 Avg Salary*
44% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Top Georgia Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.

We analyzed 68 colleges and universities across Georgia to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.

Find out more about our ranking methodology.

Customizing Your List

We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.

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One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!

Top Colleges in Georgia

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1

Our 2024 rankings named Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus the best school in Georgia in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is a large public school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 9,219 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech make an average of $88,196 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

2
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges in Georgia list means Emory University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 5,056 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Emory make an average of $72,364 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Emory University

3
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in Georgia list means University of Georgia is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Athens, Georgia, the large public school awarded 13,166 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UGA go into careers with an average salary of $59,769 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Georgia Report

4
Mercer crest
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mercer University. The school came in at #4 in Georgia on this year’s overall quality ranking.Macon, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,772 students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Mercer make an average of $52,841 per year during the early years of their career.

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5

Out of the 68 schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, Savannah Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Savannah, Georgia, the small public school awarded 2,326 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Savannah Tech is $29,064 during the early years of their career.

Full Savannah Technical College Report

6
Ogeechee Technical College crest
Ogeechee Technical College
Statesboro, Georgia

Ogeechee Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Located in Statesboro, Georgia, the small public school handed out 1,285 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Ogeechee Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $27,768 during the early years of their career.

Full Ogeechee Technical College Report

7
GTC crest
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, Georgia

Gwinnett Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking, coming in at #7. GTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Lawrenceville, Georgia. It awarded 3,532 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from GTC go into careers with an average salary of $37,336 during the early years of their career.

Full Gwinnett Technical College Report

8

Columbus Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges in Georgia list. Columbus Technical College is a small public school situated in Columbus, Georgia. It awarded 2,213 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Columbus Technical College make an average of $31,622 a year.

Read full report on Columbus Technical College

9

Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is located in Rome, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,179 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Georgia Northwestern Technical College make an average of $30,163 a year.

Read full report on Georgia Northwestern Technical College

10

Georgia State University-Perimeter College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Georgia State University-Perimeter College is a fairly large public school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 2,542 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University-Perimeter College is $43,099 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Georgia State University-Perimeter College

11
CGTC crest
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia

Central Georgia Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. CGTC is located in Warner Robins, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,810 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from CGTC is $28,947 during the early years of their career.

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12
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking, coming in at #12. Georgia State University is a large public school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 8,155 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State go into careers with an average salary of $43,099 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Georgia State University

13
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Georgia Southern University is a large public school located in Statesboro, Georgia that handed out 5,812 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,913 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Georgia Southern University

14

With a ranking of #14, Southern Regional Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia list.Thomasville, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,922 students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Southwest Georgia Technical College make an average of $26,330 a year.

Read full report on Southern Regional Technical College

15
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw State University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. This large public school is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, and it awarded 7,667 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from KSU Georgia go into careers with an average salary of $51,792 during the early years of their career.

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16

With a ranking of #16, Georgia College & State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia list. Georgia College is located in Milledgeville, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,840 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Georgia College go into careers with an average salary of $50,169 during the early years of their career.

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17
Lanier Technical College crest
Lanier Technical College
Gainesville, Georgia

Lanier Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking, coming in at #17. Lanier Technical College is a public institution located in Gainesville, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,999 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Lanier Technical College make an average of $30,682 a year.

Full Lanier Technical College Report

18
Augusta University crest
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia

Augusta University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Augusta University is a public institution located in Augusta, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,425 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Augusta University go into careers with an average salary of $42,408 during the early years of their career.

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19

Augusta Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Located in Augusta, Georgia, the small public school awarded 1,766 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Augusta Technical College is $29,794 during the early years of their career.

Full Augusta Technical College Report

20
Berry crest
Berry College
Mount Berry, Georgia

Berry College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking.Mount Berry, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 558 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Berry make an average of $45,582 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Berry College Report

21
Covenant crest
Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, Georgia

Covenant College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking, coming in at #21. Covenant College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lookout Mountain, Georgia that handed out 242 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Covenant go into careers with an average salary of $46,183 during the early years of their career.

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22

Athens Technical College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Georgia ranking.Athens, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,063 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Athens Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $32,595 during the early years of their career.

Full Athens Technical College Report

23
Piedmont College crest
Piedmont College
Demorest, Georgia

Piedmont College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking, coming in at #23. Piedmont College is located in Demorest, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,030 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,095 during the early years of their career..

Full Piedmont College Report

24
Brenau crest
Brenau University
Gainesville, Georgia

Brenau University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Georgia ranking.Gainesville, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 780 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. During the early years of their career, graduates from Brenau make an average of $44,996 a year.

Full Brenau University Report

25

Coastal Pines Technical College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Georgia ranking. Coastal Pines Technical College is a small public school situated in Waycross, Georgia. It awarded 1,936 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Coastal Pines Technical College make an average of $26,711 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Coastal Pines Technical College Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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