by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Georgia, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **28** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 28 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in Georgia. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,560. Typical student debt is $24,323.
You'll be in good company at Emory University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,840 early in their careers. Emory University students take on a median of $19,431 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Georgia earned it the #3 place in Georgia. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. University Of Georgia posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,546. Typical student debt is $21,792.
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. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,186, with out-of-state students paying around $29,512. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,197. Typical student debt is $24,412.
Out of the 28 graduate schools in Georgia in this year's ranking, Mercer University landed the #5 spot. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit school based in Macon, GA. Mercer University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,565. Median early-career earnings reach $56,699. Students borrow a median of $32,463 to complete a degree here.
Columbia Theological Seminary came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Decatur, GA. Median early-career earnings reach $44,694.
Berry College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Mount Berry, GA, Berry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,486. Median early-career earnings reach $50,785. The median student debt is $24,797.
Augusta University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Augusta University is a public school based in Augusta, GA. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,414, while out-of-state students pay about $24,734. Median early-career earnings reach $56,168. The median student debt is $25,745.
Agnes Scott College placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Based in Decatur, GA, Agnes Scott College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,604. Early-career graduates earn a median of $28,191. The median student debt is $26,811.
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Savannah, GA, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $41,630 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,671. Typical student debt is $26,346.
Kennesaw State University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. This public school is set in Kennesaw, GA. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Median early-career earnings reach $53,824. Students borrow a median of $27,004 to complete a degree here.
Lagrange College placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Lagrange College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lagrange, GA. Lagrange College graduates 44% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,400. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,126. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of West Georgia landed the #13 spot in Georgia this year. University Of West Georgia is a public school based in Carrollton, GA. University Of West Georgia graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. University Of West Georgia graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,432. Typical student debt is $26,789.
Georgia Southern University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Set in Statesboro, GA, Georgia Southern University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,531. The median student debt is $26,500.
Piedmont College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit school based in Demorest, GA. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,567 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,975 to complete a degree here.
Georgia State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Georgia State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,103. Students borrow a median of $26,091 to complete a degree here.
Covenant College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Covenant College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lookout Mountain, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $42,040. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,404. The median student debt is $23,700.
University Of North Georgia came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Dahlonega, GA, University Of North Georgia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,956. Median early-career earnings reach $43,714. University Of North Georgia students take on a median of $21,439 in debt.
Georgia Southwestern State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Americus, GA, Georgia Southwestern State University is a public institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $16,572. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,428. Students borrow a median of $28,245 to complete a degree here.
Valdosta State University landed the #20 spot in Georgia this year. Located in Valdosta, GA, Valdosta State University is a public institution. Valdosta State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124, while out-of-state students pay about $17,836. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,914. Students borrow a median of $28,661 to complete a degree here.
Thomas University landed the #21 spot in Georgia this year. Thomas University is a private not-for-profit school based in Thomasville, GA. Thomas University posts a six-year graduation rate of 7%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,640. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,773. Thomas University students take on a median of $28,454 in debt.
Columbus State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Columbus, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,154 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,493 to complete a degree here.
Truett Mcconnell College placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Located in Cleveland, GA, Truett Mcconnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. In-state tuition and fees run about $26,792. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,286. Typical student debt is $24,936.
Brenau University landed the #24 spot in Georgia this year. Based in Gainesville, GA, Brenau University is a private not-for-profit institution. Brenau University posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,757. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,258. The median student debt is $36,299.
Young Harris College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Young Harris, GA. About 42% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,305. The median student debt is $24,689.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.