With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Georgia ranking.
We analyzed 46 colleges and universities across Georgia to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in Georgia earn an average starting salary of $37,491, those from the top 24 school on this list made an average of $38,138.
Starting Salary ( 28929 to 43419 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
When attending a school in Georgia, bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $29,433 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Georgia for overall quality. Georgia Tech is located in Atlanta, Georgia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,879 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Georgia Tech make an average of $61,438 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,117 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $444 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,691 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Emory make an average of $38,834 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $20,961 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $524 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Georgia. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. UGA is located in Athens, Georgia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8,870 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UGA go into careers with an average salary of $39,743 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,135. This translates to an average monthly payment of $222 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mercer University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Mercer is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Macon, Georgia. It awarded 1,298 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Mercer make an average of $38,294 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $32,096 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $271 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia State University. The school came in at #5 in Georgia on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the large public school awarded 5,480 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State go into careers with an average salary of $35,541 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,020 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $138 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Georgia Southern University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. GaSou is a public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,395 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from GaSou make an average of $35,707 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,539 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $166.
Kennesaw State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. KSU Georgia is a large public school situated in Kennesaw, Georgia. It awarded 5,969 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,455 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,530. Average monthly loan payments are around $260 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Georgia College & State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Milledgeville, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,195 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Georgia College make an average of $37,823 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,003 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $228.
Berry College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Mount Berry, Georgia, and it awarded 493 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Berry make an average of $33,135 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,514 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $662.
Covenant College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 224 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Covenant make an average of $33,252 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,899 in student loans.
Augusta University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #11. Augusta University is a medium-sized public school situated in Augusta, Georgia. It awarded 1,084 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Augusta University is $36,916 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,945 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $127 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Brenau University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Gainesville, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 385 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Brenau make an average of $35,153 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $33,568 in student loans.
Agnes Scott College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Decatur, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 217 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $26,964 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,215.
DeVry University - Georgia landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Decatur, Georgia, and it awarded 141 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University - Georgia is $46,027 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $50,843. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $171.
University of North Georgia landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Dahlonega, Georgia, the fairly large public school handed out 2,159 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UNG go into careers with an average salary of $36,306 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,146 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $156 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of West Georgia did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #16. University of West Georgia is located in Carrollton, Georgia and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,895 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,444 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,156. Average monthly loan payments are around $184 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #17, Piedmont College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Piedmont College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Demorest, Georgia that handed out 280 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,044 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $30,663 in student loans.
Herzing University - Atlanta landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Herzing University - Atlanta is a small private not-for-profit school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 78 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Herzing University - Atlanta is $47,693 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $44,539 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $204 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Valdosta State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, the fairly large public school awarded 1,563 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from VSU make an average of $31,830 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $28,947 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $212 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Spelman College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 485 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,283 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,602. This translates to an average monthly payment of $1,203 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Point University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Point University is a small private not-for-profit school located in West Point, Georgia that handed out 176 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Point is $28,762 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $32,143.
Thomas University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking. Thomas University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Thomasville, Georgia that handed out 147 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from TU make an average of $46,492 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $29,374 after getting their degree.
Reinhardt University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #23. Reinhardt University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waleska, Georgia. It awarded 283 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Reinhardt University make an average of $44,410 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,517.
Columbus State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia ranking, coming in at #24. CSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Columbus, Georgia. It awarded 1,035 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from CSU make an average of $33,759 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $30,079 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $105 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Georgia Military College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Georgia list. Milledgeville, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,211 in student loans.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
college factual
