by our College Data Analytics TeamGeorgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranks #1 of 60 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Georgia ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 58% six-year graduation rate and $65,826 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Georgia, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **60** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 60 colleges using more than 20 objective factors 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.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus leads the 60 ranked colleges in Georgia, followed by Emory University (#2) and University Of Georgia (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, our #1 college in Georgia. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Median early-career earnings reach $83,560. Typical student debt is $24,323.
You'll be in good company at Emory University, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,840. Graduates carry a median of $19,431 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the top colleges in Georgia. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. About 90% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Median early-career earnings reach $53,546. The median student debt is $21,792.
Out of the 60 colleges in Georgia in this year's ranking, Georgia College And State University landed the #4 spot. Based in Milledgeville, GA, Georgia College And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,186, compared with $29,512 for out-of-state students. Georgia College And State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $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. Berry College graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,785. The median student debt is $24,797.
Mercer University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Macon, GA, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,565. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,699 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $32,463.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia placed #7 among the best colleges in Georgia. Located in Sandy Springs, GA, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,240. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Covenant College landed the #8 spot in Georgia this year. Located in Lookout Mountain, GA, Covenant College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,040. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,404. Covenant College students take on a median of $23,700 in debt.
Kennesaw State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Kennesaw, GA, Kennesaw State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,824. The median student debt is $27,004.
University Of North Georgia came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University Of North Georgia is a public school based in Dahlonega, GA. University Of North Georgia graduates 50% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,444, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. University Of North Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,714. The median student debt is $21,439.
Savannah College Of Art And Design did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Savannah, GA, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,630. Median early-career earnings reach $40,671. Graduates carry a median of $26,346 in student loans.
Spelman College placed #12 among the best colleges in Georgia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Atlanta, GA. Spelman College graduates 78% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,556. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,217 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,397 to complete a degree here.
Augusta University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Augusta, GA, Augusta University is a public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,414, with out-of-state students paying around $24,734. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,168 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,745 in student loans.
Georgia Southern University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Statesboro, GA, Georgia Southern University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Georgia Southern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,531. Graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Agnes Scott College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Decatur, GA. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $50,604. Median early-career earnings reach $28,191. Students borrow a median of $26,811 to complete a degree here.
Georgia State University placed #16 among the best colleges in Georgia. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. Georgia State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, 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 came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based 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 average $47,590. Oglethorpe University graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,113. Students borrow a median of $26,800 to complete a degree here.
Lagrange College landed the #18 spot in Georgia this year. Set in Lagrange, GA, Lagrange College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,400. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,000.
University Of West Georgia came in at #19 in this year's ranking. University Of West Georgia is a public school based in Carrollton, GA. University Of West Georgia graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,088, with out-of-state students paying around $17,800. University Of West Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,432. The median student debt is $26,789.
Piedmont College placed #20 among the best colleges in Georgia. Located in Demorest, GA, Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,700. Median early-career earnings reach $52,567. Piedmont College students take on a median of $29,975 in debt.
Morehouse College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Morehouse College is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Students from in state pay about $32,893 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,093. Morehouse College students take on a median of $26,199 in debt.
Georgia Gwinnett College placed #22 among the best colleges in Georgia. Georgia Gwinnett College is a public school based in Lawrenceville, GA. Georgia Gwinnett College posts a six-year graduation rate of 22%. Students from in state pay about $4,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,844. Georgia Gwinnett College graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,992. Students borrow a median of $21,280 to complete a degree here.
Valdosta State University landed the #23 spot in Georgia this year. This public school is set in Valdosta, GA. Valdosta State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,914. Typical student debt is $28,661.
Dalton State College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Dalton, GA, Dalton State College is a public institution. Dalton State College posts a six-year graduation rate of 24%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,654. The median student debt is $14,955.
Georgia Southwestern State University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Georgia Southwestern State University is a public school based in Americus, GA. Georgia Southwestern State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 41%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $16,572. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,428. The median student debt is $28,245.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 60 in Georgia. 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), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.