Best Colleges in Georgia (2023 Rankings)

If you're interested in pursuing higher education in Georgia, then we've got some awesome news for you. No matter what your goals or interests are, you'll soon discover that the "Peach State" is home to plenty of great public colleges and private institutions alike.

Whether you're interested in earning a four-year undergraduate degree or checking out the best graduate programs that the state has to offer, we've got you covered with a handy list of the best colleges in Georgia. We also understand that rankings can be subjective, which is why we've pulled together a collection of schools for all different types of students.

Depending on the school experience you're looking for, like a large school with a great Greek scene or a smaller college with more one-on-one attention, we'll point you in the direction of several schools worth looking into. Our methodology also took important stats into account like location, size, notable degree programs, and more.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Location: Atlanta, GA

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, master's, doctorate

Highly-ranked programs: Computer Science, Business Administration, Engineering

Most unique degree programs: Music Technology (Ph.D.), Sustainable Cities (minor), Ocean Science and Engineering (Ph.D.)

Set on 400 acres in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia Institute of Technology (aka Georgia Tech) is one of the top public research universities in the United States. With a student body of around 45,000 students, Georgia Tech offers a huge number of student activities and a vibrant Greek scene that attracts 25% of undergrads.

Georgia Tech has an impressive range of bachelor's degrees, graduate degrees, and doctorate degrees. While its engineering and computing programs are consistently ranked among the best in the nation, Georgia Tech also offers stellar business, liberal arts, science, and design programs.

University of Georgia

Location: Athens, GA

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, masters, professional degrees (Law, Pharmacy, Vet Medicine)

Highly-ranked programs: Law, Veterinary Medicine, Public Affairs

Most Unique Degrees: Classics, Genetics, Astrophysics

First founded in 1785, the University of Georgia (UGA) made history as America's first state-supported public college. Today, UGA is popularly known for the prowess of its NCAA Division I Bulldogs sports teams, its large student body of around 40,000 students, and its gorgeous 762-acre campus.

With 18 different schools and colleges, UGA offers a huge number of degree programs from bachelor's degrees to PhDs. UGA's Double Dawgs program even offers students the chance to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's through a single five-year program.

While its Veterinary Medicine and Law programs are particularly renowned, you'll find no shortage of majors to choose from in over 140 fields. UGA also offers a huge variety of on-campus activities, including over 800 different student clubs, over 60 Greek chapters, and a variety of student volunteer programs.

Emory University

Location: Atlanta, GA

Degrees offered: Associate, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, professional

Highly-Ranked Degrees: Registered Nursing, Business Administration, Biology

Most Unique Degrees: Bioethics and Theology, Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Playwriting

Atlanta's Emory University is a private institution with a smaller student population of just under 6,000. While Emory is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, students of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

With an acceptance rate of just 19%, Emory students enjoy a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a selection of 80 majors, over 10 professional programs, and several five-year bachelor/master's programs. While all of Emory's programs offer top-notch research opportunities, the school is particularly well known for its academic healthcare and business administration programs.

You'll also find a wide offering of theology degrees and dual degrees at Emory's Chandler School of Theology. All students are required to live on campus for the first two years, making for a tight-knit community that offers over 450 student organizations and clubs and a vibrant Greek community.

Mercer University

Location: Macon, GA

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, master's, doctorate, specialist

Highly-Ranked Degrees: Business, Teaching, Engineering, Nursing

Most Unique Degrees: Africana Studies, Church Music (master's), Homeland Security and Emergency Management

First formed in 1833, Mercer University is the oldest private college in Georgia. Not only was Mercer dubbed one of the best value colleges, but its business, teaching, engineering, and nursing programs have also earned top reviews.

Set on a sprawling 150-acre campus in Macon, GA, Mercer's average undergraduate enrollment is around 9,000 students. With a 78% acceptance rate, more than 140 student clubs and organizations, and a variety of degree programs to choose from, Mercer is definitely a school worth looking into.

Kennesaw State University

Location: Kennesaw, GA

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, master's, doctorate

Highly-Ranked Degrees: Cybersecurity, Nursing

Most Unique Degrees: Computer Game Design and Development, Sports Management, Digital Animation

Located about 15 miles outside of Atlanta, Kennesaw State University is among just 6% of U.S. colleges that can lay claim to being named a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution. With over 180 undergraduate degrees, graduate programs, and doctoral degrees to choose from, this large public university has something for everyone.

KSU's cybersecurity program earned a National Center of Academic Excellence (NCAE) designation from the NSA, and its nursing graduates consistently outperform the national average on their licensing exams. When you join the 42,000 strong student body, you'll enjoy your choice of over 300 student organizations, including 18 NCAA Division I sports teams and even an esports program.

Spelman College

Location: Atlanta, GA

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, accelerated master's

Highly-Ranked Degrees: Teaching, Psychology, Theatre and Performance

Most Unique Degrees: Dance Performance and Choreography, Documentary Filmmaking, Comparative Women's Studies

Atlanta's Spelman College is a historically Black college (HBCU) for women. With a 51% acceptance rate, Spelman's 2,100-member student body enjoys an impressive 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Spelman College offers a wide range of majors, minors, and programs to choose from, with its undergraduate teaching program being held in particularly high regard. The ladies of Spelman enjoy plenty of great opportunities to connect with over 85 student organizations, clubs, and sororities.

Berry College

Location: Mount Berry, GA

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, master's, pre-professional

Highly-Ranked Degrees: Business, Teaching, pre-professional programs

Most Unique Degrees: Professional Tennis Management, Creative Technologies, Applied Behavior Analysis

While the student body at Berry College consists of just over 2,200 students, its campus is the largest in the world. Set on a sprawling 27,000 acres with 88 miles of trails, the campus has consistently been ranked among the most beautiful in the country.

With a 77% acceptance rate, students at Berry College enjoy 117 programs to choose from and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio with 99% of ranked faculty holding a Ph.D or terminal degree. This likely goes a long way in explaining the incredible results of the college's pre-professional programs, including:

• 80% vet school acceptance rate
• 98% pre-law acceptance rate
• 98% medical school acceptance rate

Georgia College & State University

Location: Milledgeville, Georgia

Degrees offered: Bachelor's, master's

Highly-Ranked Degrees: Nursing, Business, Marketing

Most Unique Degrees: Athletic Training, Nurse Midwifery, Museum Studies (minor)

Milledgeville's Georgia College & State University, Georgia's designated public liberal arts university, offers over 40 different majors, ranging from liberal arts to business. Around 80% of GSU's 6,000 undergrad students take advantage of financial aid, so don't hesitate to reach out to the financial aid office to discuss your options.

While liberal arts are the school's bread and butter, majors like nursing, marketing, and business are also popular. Students enjoy access to over 150 student organizations, including 29 Greek chapters.

Honorable mentions

• Morehouse College. Atlanta's Morehouse College is a mid-sized undergraduate HBCU for men that boasts famous alumni such as Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. The school's Business, Management, and Marketing programs are particularly popular.
• Athens Technical College. A mid-sized public university, Athens tech offers a wide range of associate degrees and technical certifications, including 15 different tuition-free programs.
• Wesleyan College. This small Macon-based private liberal arts college for women was the world's first university chartered to grant degrees to women. Students can choose from a number of undergraduate and graduate programs and can even opt for a self-designed major.

• Georgia Southern University. GSU is a public institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees on its larger main campus in Statesboro, online, and at its two smaller campuses in Savannah and Hinesville. GSU is ranked among the top 10 most affordable online colleges for out-of-state students.

Compare top colleges easily with College Rover

As you can see, there are plenty of great colleges to choose from in the state of Georgia alone.

College Rover is your one-stop guide to finding and comparing the best colleges and programs for you. Filter colleges based on your unique preferences or see how schools stack up against each other based on graduation rate, average GPA requirements, and more.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.