Best Colleges in Georgia

From metro Atlanta to coastal Savannah, Georgia has some of the best colleges in the country. You can also find scenic rural colleges and online colleges in the Peach State. But which of Georgia’s 40-plus schools make the top 10 list?

With options for every budget, major, and school size, you can find the right college to reach your goals on our list. Let’s dive in to learn more about the best colleges in Georgia.

Ready to learn more about the best colleges in Georgia? Here’s our list of the ten top-ranking colleges and universities in the state.

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Georgia. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Note that schools that do not admit full-time, first-time degree-seeking students and that enroll fewer than 500 undergrads were not considered for this list.

Georgia colleges are more affordable than the national average. At a public four-year university, you can expect to pay around $7,500 in tuition and fees as a Georgia resident. Private colleges cost around $30,400 regardless of your state residency.

You can save money as a Georgia college student by attending community college for your first two years and then transferring to a four-year institution. Georgia residents pay around $3,150 in tuition for public community colleges.

Alternatively, you might consider attending an online college in Georgia to lower your transportation costs.

Did you know that Georgia offers many college scholarships? You can receive free money to attend college in Georgia if you meet the eligibility requirements. Learn more about some of the top scholarships below.

You can receive a HOPE Scholarship after graduating from a Georgia high school. You’ll need to attend an eligible Georgia college or university. The amount of the award varies depending on your school and the number of hours enrolled.

Georgia residents qualify for the Zell Miller Scholarship. You’ll need to meet academic requirements and submit the FAFSA or Georgia Student Finance Application to qualify. The award amount varies depending on your course load and chosen college in Georgia.

Offered by REACH Georgia, the REACH Scholarship supports students from middle school through high school. If REACH Scholars maintain a 2.5 GPA, they can qualify for up to $2,500 per year for up to four years to attend a Georgia college.

Georgia is home to around 50 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges and universities. There are also around 15 for-profit colleges in Georgia, according to NCES.

Some of the best-known colleges in Georgia include the University of Georgia, Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State University. The Peach State also stands out for its HBCUs, including Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University.

Many Georgia colleges accept the HOPE Scholarship, including UGA, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State. Private colleges like Emory, Mercer, Morehouse, and Spelman also accept the HOPE scholarship.

Visit the program page for more information on eligible colleges.

Yes, Georgia Tech is a well-known college that specializes in science and technology programs. It’s also one of the largest colleges in Georgia. And since Georgia Tech is a public school, it charges a lower tuition rate than many other schools.

Georgia Tech also reports one of the lowest acceptance rates among Georgia colleges: Only 17% of more than 50,000 applicants were accepted in fall 2022, according to NCES.