# Best Colleges in Georgia

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-georgia

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in Georgia

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 college in Georgia means navigating a diverse set of options, from large research universities to smaller liberal arts colleges. With 49 institutions to consider, students and families have a lot to weigh when deciding where to invest their time and money. Here, we highlight some of the best schools in the state based on key outcomes that matter for future success.

What sets the top colleges apart is their ability to deliver strong outcomes in terms of earnings, graduation rates, and manageable debt levels. For instance, the average earnings for graduates across these institutions stand at $48,895, but this number varies significantly between schools. The list below provides insights into schools with higher graduation rates and lower debt, emphasizing how these factors contribute to long-term success.

Take Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, for example, which boasts $102,772 in average earnings and a 93% graduation rate. In contrast, University of North Georgia shows a much lower earning potential at $50,135 and a graduation rate of just 37%. This stark difference highlights the importance of considering not just the name of the school, but the tangible outcomes that can affect one’s career and financial future.

## Key Findings

- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus graduates earn an impressive $102,772 on average.
- Emory University has a graduation rate of 91%, rivaling the best schools in the state.
- University of North Georgia has a graduation rate of only 37%, highlighting a significant gap in completion.
- The average debt across these colleges is $21,672, showing how financial burden varies among institutions.

## 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 | [Kennesaw State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kennesaw-state-university) | Kennesaw, GA | 50% | $57,552 | $15,048 | $23,833 | 0.41x |
| 5 | [University of North Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-georgia) | Dahlonega, GA | 37% | $50,135 | $9,823 | $17,750 | 0.35x |
| 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 | [Emory University-Oxford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-university-oxford-college) | Oxford, GA | 94% | $80,137 | $37,920 | $18,250 | 0.23x |
| 10 | [University of West Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-georgia) | Carrollton, GA | 43% | $49,587 | $12,786 | $23,970 | 0.48x |
| 11 | [Berry College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/berry-college) | Mount Berry, GA | 72% | $53,800 | $22,320 | $23,250 | 0.43x |
| 12 | [Valdosta State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/valdosta-state-university) | Valdosta, GA | 42% | $49,361 | $10,945 | $24,779 | 0.5x |
| 13 | [Georgia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-state-university) | Atlanta, GA | 53% | $47,384 | $15,931 | $20,903 | 0.44x |
| 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 | [Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/abraham-baldwin-agricultural-college) | Tifton, GA | 33% | $34,996 | $6,842 | $16,750 | 0.48x |
| 17 | [Agnes Scott College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/agnes-scott-college) | Decatur, GA | 71% | $56,274 | $24,754 | $26,749 | 0.48x |
| 18 | [Covenant College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/covenant-college) | Lookout Mountain, GA | 72% | $50,412 | $26,265 | $22,500 | 0.45x |
| 19 | [Dalton State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dalton-state-college) | Dalton, GA | 28% | $40,251 | $5,012 | $12,937 | 0.32x |
| 20 | [Oglethorpe University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oglethorpe-university) | Atlanta, GA | 54% | $55,232 | $19,509 | $25,000 | 0.45x |
| 21 | [Columbus State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbus-state-university) | Columbus, GA | 42% | $44,544 | $13,115 | $26,000 | 0.58x |
| 22 | [Georgia Highlands College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-highlands-college) | Rome, GA | 21% | $43,184 | $6,928 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 23 | [Piedmont University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/piedmont-university) | Demorest, GA | 44% | $49,130 | $20,599 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 24 | [College of Coastal Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-coastal-georgia) | Brunswick, GA | 26% | $39,318 | $15,261 | $15,039 | 0.38x |
| 25 | [Brenau University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brenau-university) | Gainesville, GA | 34% | $54,003 | $18,924 | $27,000 | 0.5x |
| 26 | [Gordon State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gordon-state-college) | Barnesville, GA | 19% | $37,871 | $8,105 | $17,500 | 0.46x |
| 27 | [Middle Georgia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/middle-georgia-state-university) | Macon, GA | 25% | $40,863 | $12,361 | $19,000 | 0.46x |
| 28 | [Shorter University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shorter-university) | Rome, GA | 37% | $44,604 | $16,646 | $25,000 | 0.56x |
| 29 | [Truett McConnell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/truett-mcconnell-university) | Cleveland, GA | 39% | $46,700 | $22,227 | $23,439 | 0.5x |
| 30 | [LaGrange College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lagrange-college) | Lagrange, GA | 44% | $51,745 | $20,875 | $25,730 | 0.5x |
| 31 | [East Georgia State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-georgia-state-college) | Swainsboro, GA | 15% | $37,174 | $9,626 | $11,750 | 0.32x |
| 32 | [South Georgia State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-georgia-state-college) | Douglas, GA | 18% | $35,697 | $8,767 | $11,500 | 0.32x |
| 33 | [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 |
| 34 | [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 |
| 35 | [Reinhardt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/reinhardt-university) | Waleska, GA | 39% | $46,541 | $24,425 | $23,900 | 0.51x |
| 36 | [Atlanta Metropolitan State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/atlanta-metropolitan-state-college) | Atlanta, GA | 16% | $33,252 | $5,258 | $14,123 | 0.42x |
| 37 | [Wesleyan College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wesleyan-college) | Macon, GA | 50% | $44,317 | $12,724 | $24,094 | 0.54x |
| 38 | [Morehouse College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morehouse-college) | Atlanta, GA | 56% | $52,889 | $39,013 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 39 | [Georgia Military College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-military-college) | Milledgeville, GA | 35% | $39,257 | $16,923 | $8,563 | 0.22x |
| 40 | [Albany State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albany-state-university) | Albany, GA | 27% | $40,674 | $11,898 | $25,024 | 0.62x |
| 41 | [Young Harris College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/young-harris-college) | Young Harris, GA | 44% | $47,195 | $22,034 | $27,000 | 0.57x |
| 42 | [Savannah State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/savannah-state-university) | Savannah, GA | 27% | $37,981 | $8,172 | $28,000 | 0.74x |
| 43 | [Clark Atlanta University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clark-atlanta-university) | Atlanta, GA | 48% | $42,712 | $37,702 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 44 | [Augusta University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/augusta-university) | Augusta, GA | 49% | $48,472 | $13,787 | $20,500 | 0.42x |
| 45 | [Georgia Gwinnett College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-gwinnett-college) | Lawrenceville, GA | 21% | $47,730 | $15,844 | $20,076 | 0.42x |
| 46 | [Georgia State University-Perimeter College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-state-university-perimeter-college) | Atlanta, GA | 22% | $47,384 | $11,453 | $20,903 | 0.44x |
| 47 | [Life University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/life-university) | Marietta, GA | 36% | $47,397 | $29,791 | $16,666 | 0.35x |
| 48 | [Paine College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/paine-college) | Augusta, GA | 17% | $33,338 | $16,670 | N/A | N/A |
| 49 | [Thomas University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/thomas-university) | Thomasville, GA | 28% | $49,716 | $18,499 | $21,198 | 0.43x |
| 50 | [Andrew College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/andrew-college) | Cuthbert, GA | 30% | $38,475 | $21,823 | $12,533 | 0.33x |

## 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 Colleges in Georgia." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-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/.