Rankings / By State
Best Education Colleges in Georgia
- 37
- Schools
- $45,543
- Avg. Earnings
- 40%
- Avg. Graduation
- $16,905
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,796
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 37 schools run from $34,996 to $58,354, a 1.7× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Dalton State College delivers the most for the money: roughly $40,251 in median earnings against $5,012 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Dalton State College is the lowest-cost school here at $5,012 a year in net price.
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Mercer University graduates 72% of its students, versus a 40% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Georgia Military College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.22× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Georgia Southwestern State University ($48,757 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Mercer University ($58,354), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Dalton State College costs $5,012 a year and Clark Atlanta University costs $37,702. Yet their graduates earn $40,251 and $42,712, nowhere near the $32,690 price gap.
- On value, Dalton State College beats Mercer University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Dalton State College and Mercer University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $47K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Georgia Southwestern State University #1 overall | $48,757 ▲ +7% vs avg | $12,019 | 36% | 77 |
| 2 Brenau University #2 overall | $54,003 ▲ +19% vs avg | $18,924 | 34% | 75 |
| 3 Piedmont University #3 overall | $49,130 ▲ +8% vs avg | $20,599 | 44% | 74 |
| $50,135 ▲ +10% vs avg | $9,823 | 37% | 73 | |
| $44,604 ▼ -2% vs avg | $16,646 | 37% | 73 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Education Colleges in Georgia
This analysis ranks 37 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,543 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 40% and an average net price of $16,905.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Dalton State College — Net Price: $5,012 | Graduation Rate: 28%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Mercer University — 72% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Mercer University — Median alumni earnings: $58,354
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Educator Pipeline Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the educator pipeline?
$46,541
Median earnings (10yr)
39%
Median graduation rate
$15,844
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
Education programs feed a workforce defined by paradox: chronic teacher shortages and high social value on one side, modest pay and high attrition on the other. These are licensure-gated, mission-driven careers. The programs that matter most reliably move graduates into classrooms and keep them there.
Start with the medians across these 37 schools. Graduates earn a median of $46,541 ten years after enrollment. The median graduation rate is 39%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $15,844 a year with about $23,439 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 40% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.5%.
What we’re seeing: districts compete hard for credentialed teachers, but the pay ceiling makes affordability decisive. With median earnings near $46,541 and a typical net price of $15,844, value in this field is driven as much by low cost as by salary.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Georgia Southwestern State University lands at #1 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $48,757 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,019 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Brenau University lands at #2 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $54,003 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,924 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Piedmont University lands at #3 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $49,130 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,599 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
University of North Georgia lands at #4 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $50,135 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,823 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Shorter University lands at #5 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $44,604 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,646 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Valdosta State University lands at #6 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $49,361 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,945 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Kennesaw State University lands at #7 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $57,552 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,048 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Georgia Southern University lands at #8 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $53,236 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,267 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Milledgeville, GA · 78% accepted · $20,686 net
Why it ranks #9
Georgia College & State University lands at #9 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $58,140 a decade after enrolling, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,686 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Mercer University lands at #10 with a 72/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $58,354 a decade after enrolling, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,847 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
University of West Georgia lands at #11 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $49,587 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,786 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Gordon State College lands at #12 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $37,871 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,105 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Covenant College lands at #13 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $50,412 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,265 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Dalton State College lands at #14 with a 70/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $40,251 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,012 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College lands at #15 with a 70/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $34,996 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,842 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Truett McConnell University lands at #16 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $46,700 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,227 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Berry College lands at #17 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $53,800 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,320 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
East Georgia State College lands at #18 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $37,174 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,626 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
College of Coastal Georgia lands at #19 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $39,318 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,261 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Columbus State University lands at #20 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (58/100). Graduates earn a median $44,544 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,115 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
South Georgia State College lands at #21 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $35,697 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,767 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
LaGrange College lands at #22 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $51,745 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,875 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Middle Georgia State University lands at #23 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $40,863 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,361 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Young Harris College lands at #24 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $47,195 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,034 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Fort Valley State University lands at #25 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (49/100). Graduates earn a median $36,666 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,338 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Reinhardt University lands at #26 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $46,541 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,425 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Georgia Military College lands at #27 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (74/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $39,257 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,923 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Wesleyan College lands at #28 with a 62/100 composite, led by academic quality (74/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (58/100). Graduates earn a median $44,317 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,724 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Albany State University lands at #29 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $40,674 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,898 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Georgia Gwinnett College lands at #30 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (64/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $47,730 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,844 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Clark Atlanta University lands at #31 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (23/100). Graduates earn a median $42,712 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $37,702 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Augusta University lands at #32 with a 60/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $48,472 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,787 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Thomas University lands at #33 with a 58/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (64/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $49,716 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,499 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Emmanuel University lands at #34 with a 56/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (55/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $38,208 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,925 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Toccoa Falls College lands at #35 with a 53/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (55/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $36,630 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,642 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Point University lands at #36 with a 52/100 composite, led by academic quality (68/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $38,740 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,335 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Mount Vernon, GA · 96% accepted · $26,054 net
Why it ranks #37
Brewton-Parker Christian University lands at #37 with a 51/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (56/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,009 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,054 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 37 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing the right education college in Georgia can shape your future. With 38 institutions on this list, you have options that prioritize student outcomes and program concentration. Education programs here are designed to equip future teachers and educators with the skills they need to succeed in the classroom.
What sets the standout schools apart from the others? It's all about the numbers that matter: earnings after graduation, graduation rates, student debt, and overall program effectiveness. The schools listed below reflect varying levels of success in these areas, helping you understand the potential return on investment for your education.
Take Georgia Southern University and Dalton State College, for example. Georgia Southern boasts average earnings of $53,236 and a graduation rate of 53%, while Dalton State shows lower earnings of $40,251 and a graduation rate of just 28%. This contrast highlights the importance of evaluating not just the institution's reputation, but the outcomes that will affect your career and financial future.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 29 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.5%. Clark Atlanta University leads the group at 3.3%, with Fort Valley State University (2.8%) and Albany State University (2.6%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 10.9% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Fort Valley State University leads at 23.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 16.4% across this list. Brenau University posts the highest success rate at 30.9%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.23 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Covenant College reaches 1.67, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When we compare Georgia Southern University and Dalton State College, the differences become clear. Georgia Southern's higher earnings of $53,236 and graduation rate of 53% indicate a stronger return on investment than Dalton State's $40,251 earnings and 28% graduation rate. This suggests that not only are more students graduating from Georgia Southern, but they are also entering the workforce with higher salaries.
After reviewing the data across 38 schools, it's essential to align this information with your personal priorities. Consider what factors matter most to you: Are you looking for a school with a strong graduation rate, or is minimizing debt your main concern? Each school offers a unique blend of financial implications and educational experiences, so think about how they match your goals and lifestyle.
Ultimately, this data reflects a crucial decision point for families. A solid education can lead to financial stability and career opportunities down the road. Choosing a school with a strong track record, like Georgia Southern, could mean a smoother transition from college to a rewarding job, impacting a family's well-being for years to come.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Education Colleges in Georgia: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Education Colleges in Georgia ranking? +
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Education Colleges in Georgia ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $48,757 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 36% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Mercer University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $58,354 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,543 average across the 37 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Dalton State College leads: graduates earn a median $40,251 against net price of about $5,012 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Mercer University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 72%, compared with a 40% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $16,905 a year across the 37 ranked schools with cost data. Dalton State College is among the most affordable at roughly $5,012. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Education Colleges in Georgia ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 37 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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