by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Georgia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **46** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 46 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Georgia. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,560. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 46 colleges in Georgia in this year's ranking, Emory University landed the #2 spot. Set in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Emory University posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Median early-career earnings reach $67,840. The median student debt is $19,431.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the top colleges in Georgia. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Median early-career earnings reach $53,546. University Of Georgia students take on a median of $21,792 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Georgia College And State University earned it the #4 place in Georgia. Based in Milledgeville, GA, Georgia College And State University is a public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,186, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. Median early-career earnings reach $51,197. Typical student debt is $24,412.
Berry College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Georgia. Set in Mount Berry, GA, Berry College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,486 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $50,785. Berry College students take on a median of $24,797 in debt.
Mercer University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Macon, GA. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,699 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Sandy Springs, GA, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia is a private for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $21,240. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,188. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Covenant College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Covenant College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lookout Mountain, GA. Covenant College posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,040. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,404. Covenant College students take on a median of $23,700 in debt.
Spelman College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Spelman College is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. Spelman College posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,556. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,217. The median student debt is $26,397.
University Of North Georgia landed the #10 spot in Georgia this year. This public school is set in Dahlonega, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,444, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,714. Students borrow a median of $21,439 to complete a degree here.
Kennesaw State University placed #11 among the best colleges in Georgia. Kennesaw State University is a public school based in Kennesaw, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,824 early in their careers. Kennesaw State University students take on a median of $27,004 in debt.
Savannah College Of Art And Design placed #12 among the best colleges in Georgia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Savannah, GA. Savannah College Of Art And Design posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Students from in state pay about $41,630 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,671. Graduates carry a median of $26,346 in student loans.
Georgia Southern University did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Statesboro, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Georgia Southern University students take on a median of $26,500 in debt.
Augusta University landed the #14 spot in Georgia this year. Based in Augusta, GA, Augusta University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,414, compared with $24,734 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,168 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,745 to complete a degree here.
Agnes Scott College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Decatur, GA, Agnes Scott College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,604. Agnes Scott College graduates report median early-career earnings of $28,191. The median student debt is $26,811.
Georgia State University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Georgia State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,103. The median student debt is $26,091.
Oglethorpe University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Atlanta, GA, Oglethorpe University is a private not-for-profit institution. Oglethorpe University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,590. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,113. Typical student debt is $26,800.
University Of West Georgia ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Carrollton, GA, University Of West Georgia is a public institution. University Of West Georgia graduates 44% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. University Of West Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,432. University Of West Georgia students take on a median of $26,789 in debt.
Piedmont College placed #19 among the best colleges in Georgia. Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit school based in Demorest, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,700. Median early-career earnings reach $52,567. Piedmont College students take on a median of $29,975 in debt.
Lagrange College placed #20 among the best colleges in Georgia. Located in Lagrange, GA, Lagrange College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $35,400 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $52,126. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Morehouse College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Morehouse College is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. About 59% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,893. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,093 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,199.
Georgia Gwinnett College landed the #22 spot in Georgia this year. Georgia Gwinnett College is a public school based in Lawrenceville, GA. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,532, with out-of-state students paying around $13,844. Median early-career earnings reach $55,992. Graduates carry a median of $21,280 in student loans.
Valdosta State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Valdosta, GA, Valdosta State University is a public institution. Valdosta State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,914. Graduates carry a median of $28,661 in student loans.
Dalton State College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Dalton, GA, Dalton State College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 24%. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,654. Dalton State College students take on a median of $14,955 in debt.
Reinhardt University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Waleska, GA, Reinhardt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,074. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,837 early in their careers. The median student debt is $27,860.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.