2026 Best Graduate Schools in Georgia
With all of the graduate school options in Georgia, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked 128 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 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.
Customizing Your List
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Top 25 Graduate Schools in Georgia
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Georgia. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,323.
The strong outcomes at Emory University earned it the #2 place in Georgia. Based in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. 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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the top graduate schools in Georgia. Based in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Emory University Oxford College earned it the #4 place in Georgia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Oxford, GA. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Early-career graduates earn a median of $7,808. Emory University Oxford College students take on a median of $11,260 in debt.
Georgia College And State University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Georgia. Georgia College And State University is a public school based in Milledgeville, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,186, with out-of-state students paying around $29,512. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,197 early in their careers. Georgia College And State University students take on a median of $24,412 in debt.
Mercer University landed the #6 spot in Georgia this year. Set in Macon, GA, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Mercer University graduates 70% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $31,565 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,699. Typical student debt is $32,463.
Berry College did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mount Berry, GA. Berry College graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,486. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,785 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,797.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia is a private for-profit school based in Sandy Springs, GA. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,240. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,188 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
Columbia Theological Seminary came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Decatur, GA, Columbia Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,694.
Spelman College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,556. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,217. Spelman College students take on a median of $26,397 in debt.
Covenant College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Lookout Mountain, GA, Covenant College is a private not-for-profit institution. Covenant College posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,040. Median early-career earnings reach $37,404. Graduates carry a median of $23,700 in student loans.
Savannah College Of Art And Design placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,671. Typical student debt is $26,346.
Kennesaw State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Kennesaw State University is a public school based in Kennesaw, GA. About 52% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,824 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,004 in student loans.
Augusta University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Located in Augusta, GA, Augusta University is a public institution. Augusta University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,414, while out-of-state students pay about $24,734. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,168. The median student debt is $25,745.
University Of North Georgia ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Dahlonega, GA, University Of North Georgia is a public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,714. Typical student debt is $21,439.
Agnes Scott College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Decatur, GA, Agnes Scott College is a private not-for-profit institution. Agnes Scott College posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. Students from in state pay about $50,604 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,191 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,811 to complete a degree here.
Georgia Southern University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. This public school is set in Statesboro, GA. About 55% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,500.
Piedmont College landed the #18 spot in Georgia this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Demorest, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,567. The median student debt is $29,975.
University Of West Georgia did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Carrollton, GA, University Of West Georgia is a public institution. University Of West Georgia posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,432. Typical student debt is $26,789.
Georgia State University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Georgia State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,103. Graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans.
Oglethorpe University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Atlanta, GA, Oglethorpe University is a private not-for-profit institution. Oglethorpe University graduates 54% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $47,590 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,113. Students borrow a median of $26,800 to complete a degree here.
Lagrange College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Lagrange College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lagrange, GA. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,400. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,126 early in their careers. Lagrange College students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
Gwinnett Technical College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Gwinnett Technical College is a public school based in Lawrenceville, GA. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,524, with out-of-state students paying around $6,092. Gwinnett Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,288. Students borrow a median of $18,048 to complete a degree here.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public school based in Rome, GA. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,229. Typical student debt is $8,492.
Morehouse College placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Georgia. Located in Atlanta, GA, Morehouse College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,893. Median early-career earnings reach $32,093. The median student debt is $26,199.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Schools in Georgia
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 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.
