by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Georgia Colleges for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
After analyzing 32 grad schools in Georgia, we came up with our list of those that offered the best master's 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 master's degree from the school. While master's degree recipients from schools in Georgia earn an average starting salary of $56,186, those from the top 24 school on this list made an average of $59,195.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their master's degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty master's recipients will have paying back their loans.
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 Master's 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.
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus to be the best grad school for master’s degrees in Georgia in this year’s ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the large public school awarded 4,762 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $85,207 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 1,573 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Emory make an average of $94,275 a year.
A rank of #3 on our Best Master’s Degree in Georgia list means University of Georgia is a great place for students working on their degree. This large public school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 1,952 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UGA make an average of $53,492 a year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia Southern University. The school came in at #4 in Georgia on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. This large public school is located in Statesboro, Georgia, and it awarded 1,103 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from GaSou make an average of $50,977 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 32 master’s degree schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, Mercer University landed the #5 spot on the list. Macon, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 950 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Mercer make an average of $55,463 a year.
Piedmont College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Demorest, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 259 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Piedmont College is $49,695 during the early years of their career.
Augusta University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Augusta University is located in Augusta, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 502 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Augusta University go into careers with an average salary of $63,166 during the early years of their career.
Georgia College & State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Milledgeville, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 535 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Georgia College make an average of $59,003 per year during the early years of their career.
Kennesaw State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Kennesaw, Georgia, the large public school awarded 1,161 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,164 during the early years of their career.
Berry College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Mount Berry, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 65 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Berry make an average of $69,436 a year.
Georgia State University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. This large public school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 1,921 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Georgia State make an average of $51,956 per year during the early years of their career.
Covenant College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Brenau University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Brenau University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Gainesville, Georgia that handed out 287 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Brenau go into careers with an average salary of $53,852 during the early years of their career.
University of West Georgia came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. University of West Georgia is a fairly large public school situated in Carrollton, Georgia. It awarded 675 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from University of West Georgia go into careers with an average salary of $57,260 during the early years of their career.
Columbus State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Columbus State University is a medium-sized public school located in Columbus, Georgia that handed out 435 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from CSU make an average of $56,013 a year.
Valdosta State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, the fairly large public school awarded 759 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from VSU go into careers with an average salary of $50,012 during the early years of their career.
Thomas University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. TU is located in Thomasville, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from TU is $43,777 during the early years of their career.
Georgia Southwestern State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. GSW is located in Americus, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 160 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from GSW make an average of $63,937 per year during the early years of their career.
Herzing University - Atlanta did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 39 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Herzing University - Atlanta make an average of $51,303 per year during the early years of their career.
DeVry University - Georgia did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Decatur, Georgia, the small private for-profit school handed out 63 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from DeVry University - Georgia make an average of $61,429 a year.
Clayton State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. This medium-sized public school is located in Morrow, Georgia, and it awarded 200 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Clayton State University make an average of $56,952 a year.
Shorter University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Rome, Georgia, and it awarded 66 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Shorter go into careers with an average salary of $56,946 during the early years of their career.
University of North Georgia ranked #23 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. UNG is a fairly large public school situated in Dahlonega, Georgia. It awarded 203 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UNG is $54,947 during the early years of their career.
Clark Atlanta University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. CAU is located in Atlanta, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from CAU make an average of $51,259 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Middle Georgia State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Middle Georgia State University is located in Macon, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 134 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Middle Georgia State University make an average of $64,150 per year during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.