# Best Bachelor's Programs in Georgia

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 46 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-georgia

## Methodology

Bachelor's programs in Georgia ranked by outcomes and mobility

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing a bachelor's program in Georgia can be a pivotal decision for students and families alike. With 46 schools to consider, each presents unique opportunities and challenges that can shape a student's future. For those weighing their options, understanding the differences in outcomes can be crucial to making an informed choice.

The schools on this list stand out based on key metrics that matter in higher education: earnings after graduation, graduation rates, student debt, and mobility. These factors help paint a picture of which institutions provide strong returns on investment. As you review the rankings below, consider how each school's performance in these areas aligns with your personal goals and financial situation.

For example, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus leads the list with impressive earnings of $102,772 and a graduation rate of 93%. In contrast, the University of North Georgia shows a starkly different picture with earnings of $50,135 and a graduation rate of just 37%. This contrast highlights the importance of not only college choice but also the potential trade-offs in terms of location and program fit when making a decision.

## Key Findings

- Georgia Institute of Technology graduates earn an average of $102,772, the highest in the state.
- Emory University has a graduation rate of 91%, indicating strong student support.
- The average student debt for Augusta University graduates is $20,500, highlighting financial considerations.
- Overall, the average earnings for graduates from these programs is $49,123.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus) | Atlanta, GA | 93% | $102,772 | $12,116 | $21,672 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [Emory University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-university) | Atlanta, GA | 91% | $80,137 | $22,585 | $18,250 | 0.23x |
| 3 | [University of Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-georgia) | Athens, GA | 89% | $68,726 | $13,936 | $18,500 | 0.27x |
| 4 | [University of North Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-georgia) | Dahlonega, GA | 37% | $50,135 | $9,823 | $17,750 | 0.35x |
| 5 | [Kennesaw State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kennesaw-state-university) | Kennesaw, GA | 50% | $57,552 | $15,048 | $23,833 | 0.41x |
| 6 | [Georgia Southern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-southern-university) | Statesboro, GA | 53% | $53,236 | $15,267 | $23,250 | 0.44x |
| 7 | [Mercer University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mercer-university) | Macon, GA | 72% | $58,354 | $23,847 | $24,199 | 0.41x |
| 8 | [Georgia College & State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-college-state-university) | Milledgeville, GA | 63% | $58,140 | $20,686 | $22,250 | 0.38x |
| 9 | [University of West Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-georgia) | Carrollton, GA | 43% | $49,587 | $12,786 | $23,970 | 0.48x |
| 10 | [Berry College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/berry-college) | Mount Berry, GA | 72% | $53,800 | $22,320 | $23,250 | 0.43x |
| 11 | [Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/abraham-baldwin-agricultural-college) | Tifton, GA | 33% | $34,996 | $6,842 | $16,750 | 0.48x |
| 12 | [Valdosta State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valdosta-state-university) | Valdosta, GA | 42% | $49,361 | $10,945 | $24,779 | 0.5x |
| 13 | [Dalton State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dalton-state-college) | Dalton, GA | 28% | $40,251 | $5,012 | $12,937 | 0.32x |
| 14 | [Georgia Southwestern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-southwestern-state-university) | Americus, GA | 36% | $48,757 | $12,019 | $18,851 | 0.39x |
| 15 | [Clayton  State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clayton-state-university) | Morrow, GA | 38% | $49,179 | $8,365 | $25,706 | 0.52x |
| 16 | [Georgia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-state-university) | Atlanta, GA | 53% | $47,384 | $15,931 | $20,903 | 0.44x |
| 17 | [Covenant College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/covenant-college) | Lookout Mountain, GA | 72% | $50,412 | $26,265 | $22,500 | 0.45x |
| 18 | [Agnes Scott College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/agnes-scott-college) | Decatur, GA | 71% | $56,274 | $24,754 | $26,749 | 0.48x |
| 19 | [Oglethorpe University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oglethorpe-university) | Atlanta, GA | 54% | $55,232 | $19,509 | $25,000 | 0.45x |
| 20 | [Columbus State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbus-state-university) | Columbus, GA | 42% | $44,544 | $13,115 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 21 | [College of Coastal Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-coastal-georgia) | Brunswick, GA | 26% | $39,318 | $15,261 | $15,039 | 0.38x |
| 22 | [Middle Georgia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/middle-georgia-state-university) | Macon, GA | 25% | $40,863 | $12,361 | $19,000 | 0.46x |
| 23 | [Piedmont University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/piedmont-university) | Demorest, GA | 44% | $49,130 | $20,599 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 24 | [Truett McConnell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/truett-mcconnell-university) | Cleveland, GA | 39% | $46,700 | $22,227 | $23,439 | 0.5x |
| 25 | [Shorter University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shorter-university) | Rome, GA | 37% | $44,604 | $16,646 | $25,000 | 0.56x |
| 26 | [Wesleyan College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wesleyan-college) | Macon, GA | 50% | $44,317 | $12,724 | $24,094 | 0.54x |
| 27 | [Brenau University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brenau-university) | Gainesville, GA | 34% | $54,003 | $18,924 | $27,000 | 0.5x |
| 28 | [LaGrange College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lagrange-college) | Lagrange, GA | 44% | $51,745 | $20,875 | $25,730 | 0.5x |
| 29 | [Augusta University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/augusta-university) | Augusta, GA | 49% | $48,472 | $13,787 | $20,500 | 0.42x |
| 30 | [Savannah College of Art and Design](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/savannah-college-of-art-and-design) | Savannah, GA | 70% | $45,954 | $49,430 | $25,148 | 0.55x |
| 31 | [Fort Valley State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-valley-state-university) | Fort Valley, GA | 43% | $36,666 | $10,338 | $31,000 | 0.85x |
| 32 | [Georgia Gwinnett College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-gwinnett-college) | Lawrenceville, GA | 21% | $47,730 | $15,844 | $20,076 | 0.42x |
| 33 | [Albany State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albany-state-university) | Albany, GA | 27% | $40,674 | $11,898 | $25,024 | 0.62x |
| 34 | [Reinhardt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/reinhardt-university) | Waleska, GA | 39% | $46,541 | $24,425 | $23,900 | 0.51x |
| 35 | [Young Harris College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/young-harris-college) | Young Harris, GA | 44% | $47,195 | $22,034 | $27,000 | 0.57x |
| 36 | [Savannah State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/savannah-state-university) | Savannah, GA | 27% | $37,981 | $8,172 | $28,000 | 0.74x |
| 37 | [Morehouse College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morehouse-college) | Atlanta, GA | 56% | $52,889 | $39,013 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 38 | [Clark Atlanta University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clark-atlanta-university) | Atlanta, GA | 48% | $42,712 | $37,702 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 39 | [Life University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/life-university) | Marietta, GA | 36% | $47,397 | $29,791 | $16,666 | 0.35x |
| 40 | [Thomas University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/thomas-university) | Thomasville, GA | 28% | $49,716 | $18,499 | $21,198 | 0.43x |
| 41 | [Brewton-Parker College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brewton-parker-college) | Mount Vernon, GA | 22% | $42,009 | $26,054 | $24,990 | 0.59x |
| 42 | [Emmanuel University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emmanuel-university) | Franklin Springs, GA | 38% | $38,208 | $20,925 | $24,325 | 0.64x |
| 43 | [Toccoa Falls College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/toccoa-falls-college) | Toccoa Falls, GA | 45% | $36,630 | $21,642 | $22,250 | 0.61x |
| 44 | [Paine College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/paine-college) | Augusta, GA | 17% | $33,338 | $16,670 | N/A | N/A |
| 45 | [Herzing University-Atlanta](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/herzing-university-atlanta) | Atlanta, GA | 19% | $36,909 | $21,679 | $21,500 | 0.58x |
| 46 | [Morris Brown College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morris-brown-college) | Atlanta, GA | 29% | N/A | $24,901 | N/A | N/A |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Bachelor's Programs in Georgia." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-georgia

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.
