by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in Georgia ranking.
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After analyzing 14 grad schools in Georgia, we came up with our list of those that offered the best doctorate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a doctorate degree from the school. While doctorate degree recipients from schools in Georgia earn an average starting salary of $69,023, those from the top 12 school on this list made an average of $71,094.
Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their doctorate so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking. 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.
We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Still not sure what graduate degree you wish to pursue? You may want to visit our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best grad school for doctorate degrees in Georgia for overall quality. Georgia Tech is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 577 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Out of the 14 doctorate degree schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, Emory University landed the #2 spot on the list. Emory is located in Atlanta, Georgia and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 763 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Emory is $68,126 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 14 doctorate degree schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Georgia landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Athens, Georgia, the large public school handed out 912 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from UGA is $70,336 during the early years of their career.
The excellent doctorate degree programs at Mercer University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Georgia. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Macon, Georgia, and it awarded 486 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Mercer make an average of $73,265 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Piedmont College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Piedmont College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Demorest, Georgia. It awarded 16 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Piedmont College go into careers with an average salary of $58,943 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Kennesaw State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia list. Kennesaw State University is a large public school located in Kennesaw, Georgia that handed out 38 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from KSU Georgia is $70,544 during the early years of their career.
Brenau University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Gainesville, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Brenau make an average of $67,199 a year.
Augusta University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Augusta, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 490 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Augusta University go into careers with an average salary of $85,374 during the early years of their career.
Georgia Southern University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. GaSou is a large public school situated in Statesboro, Georgia. It awarded 116 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from GaSou make an average of $74,968 a year.
University of West Georgia came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Carrollton, Georgia, the fairly large public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from University of West Georgia make an average of $81,557 a year.
Georgia State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the large public school awarded 489 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Georgia State is $59,404 during the early years of their career.
Valdosta State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, the fairly large public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
University of North Georgia landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Dahlonega, Georgia, the fairly large public school awarded 47 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UNG make an average of $65,847 per year during the early years of their career.
Clark Atlanta University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 42 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from CAU go into careers with an average salary of $77,566 during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.