Colleges in Georgia: Public Systems, Private Campuses and Career Schools

Georgia's college landscape runs from the research campuses of Atlanta and Athens to small technical and career schools in towns like Eastman, Dalton and Statesboro. Our database holds more than 280 listings across the state, and they fall into three groups: public universities and state colleges, public technical colleges, and private or for-profit schools. Each group answers to a different body. Knowing which one you are dealing with tells you where to ask about tuition, transfer credits, complaints and licensing.

Who Oversees Higher Education in Georgia

Public higher education is split between two systems. The University System of Georgia (USG) is governed by the Board of Regents and includes the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Augusta University and Kennesaw State University. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) is a separate state agency. It runs the technical colleges, including Chattahoochee Technical College and Gwinnett Technical College, and it also oversees adult education and GED preparation.

Private and for-profit schools sit outside both systems. Nonpublic institutions operating in Georgia generally need authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). Programs in cosmetology, barbering and esthetics also answer to the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, which operates under the Secretary of State. That matters for schools such as Empire Beauty School in Morrow, Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, and Vogue Beauty and Barber School in Douglasville, because graduates must hold a state license to work.

Accreditation is a separate layer. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the regional accreditor for the Southeast, is headquartered in Decatur. Degree-granting colleges in Georgia usually hold its accreditation, and many career schools hold accreditation from national bodies instead. Check which one applies before you pay a deposit, because it affects whether your credits will move to another school later.

Paying for College in Georgia: HOPE and the Student Finance Commission

The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) administers the state's HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Scholarship. Students apply through the state's GAfutures portal and complete the federal FAFSA for federal aid. The HOPE Grant is aimed at students in certificate and diploma programs, which makes it especially relevant at technical colleges. The HOPE Scholarship generally requires a 3.0 high school GPA for degree-seeking students, and Zell Miller sets a higher bar. Award amounts and rules change from year to year, so confirm current terms with the college's financial aid office.

Residency also drives cost. Public colleges charge higher out-of-state tuition, and Georgia generally expects a student to have lived in the state for about twelve months before qualifying for in-state rates. Exceptions exist for some military families and dependents. Bring proof such as a Georgia driver's license, tax records or a lease when you ask the registrar for a residency determination.

Metro Atlanta Versus the Rest of Georgia

Georgia has 159 counties, and access to a college varies a great deal between them. Metro Atlanta offers the widest choice. Fulton County includes Omnitech Institute on Phoenix Boulevard in Atlanta, the DeVry University Alpharetta campus on North Point Center East, and Genesis Career College's North Atlanta campus on Alpharetta Highway in Roswell. In DeKalb County, the DeVry Decatur campus sits at One West Court Square in downtown Decatur.

Atlanta also anchors one of the best-known clusters of historically Black institutions in the country, the Atlanta University Center, which includes Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University. Emory University sits in unincorporated DeKalb County near Decatur, while Georgia Tech and Georgia State are in the center of the city.

The northern and eastern suburbs lean toward technical and career training. Cobb County has Chattahoochee Technical College on South Cobb Drive in Marietta, a North Metro campus on Ross Road in Acworth, and Kennesaw State University on Chastain Road. Gwinnett County has Gwinnett Technical College on Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville, Altierus Career College on Beaver Ruin Road in Norcross, and the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media on Breckinridge Boulevard in Duluth. Traffic on I-75, I-85 and I-285 can turn a short trip into a long one, so check where a program's classes actually meet.

Transit helps in some areas but not all. MARTA rail serves parts of Fulton and DeKalb, while Cobb and Gwinnett run their own bus systems with narrower coverage. Most commuter students in those suburbs drive.

Outside the metro area, colleges are fewer but spread widely. Shorter University serves Rome in Floyd County. Georgia Military College has campuses in Columbus and Eastman, a Dodge County town in central Georgia. Ogeechee Technical College is on Joe Kennedy Boulevard in Statesboro. Mercer University in Macon, founded in 1833, is among the oldest private universities in the state. In a rural county, the nearest technical college campus is often the main route to a certificate, an associate degree or a dual-enrollment course.

Georgia College Listings and Name Changes

Georgia consolidated many public colleges in the 2010s, and some older names still appear in lists and on road signs. Gainesville State College merged with North Georgia College and State University in 2013 to form the University of North Georgia. Middle Georgia State College became Middle Georgia State University in 2015. Darton State College was folded into Albany State University in 2017. Our database still carries records under some of those earlier names, including Gainesville State College in Oakwood, Middle Georgia State College in Warner Robins and Darton State College in Albany.

If a listing uses a name you do not recognize, call the number shown or search the Board of Regents or TCSG college list for the successor institution. The campus is usually still operating under a new name, and admissions, records and financial aid offices have moved to the merged institution's systems. Transcripts from a consolidated college are normally held by the successor, so ask for the registrar there.

Questions to Settle Before You Apply to a Georgia College

Before you apply or sign an enrollment agreement, work through this short list:

High school students should also ask their counselor about dual enrollment. Georgia funds college courses for eligible students at participating colleges, and credits can count toward both a high school diploma and a college degree. Adults without a diploma can start with TCSG adult education, which prepares learners for the GED and can lead directly into technical college programs.

Public colleges and universities in Georgia offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Georgia state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 97 cities across Georgia. They are spread across 66 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Georgia should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Georgia applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Georgia institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Georgia to find the nearest location.

Finding Colleges in Georgia's Mid-Sized Cities

Outside Atlanta, the largest clusters of listings are in Augusta, Savannah, Columbus and Macon. Richmond County includes Augusta, where East Georgia State College runs a campus on Walton Way and Augusta University anchors the city's health-science training. In Chatham County, South University's Savannah campus sits on Mall Boulevard, and the area also has a state university, a technical college and a large art and design school. Georgia Military College's Columbus campus on Blackmon Road and Mercer University on Mercer University Drive in Macon round out the mid-sized city choices.

Smaller cities have fewer options but real ones. Dalton, long a carpet manufacturing center, lists the Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology on West Walnut Avenue. Rome, Albany and Statesboro each have campuses tied closely to their regional job markets.

Call before you drive. The phone numbers in our listings are the fastest way to confirm campus hours, which building admissions is in, and whether a program is taught at that site. Multi-campus colleges often run different programs at different locations. Ask for admissions if you are new, the registrar for records, and financial aid for HOPE or FAFSA questions. Bring a photo ID, your Social Security number and any prior transcripts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Georgia

The University System of Georgia, governed by the Board of Regents, runs the public universities and state colleges that award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The Technical College System of Georgia is a separate agency that runs the technical colleges, which offer certificates, diplomas and applied associate degrees in fields such as nursing, welding and information technology. It also oversees adult education and GED classes. Kennesaw State University and Chattahoochee Technical College are both in Cobb County but belong to different systems. Some credits transfer between them through articulation agreements, so ask an advisor before assuming a course will count.

Georgia public colleges generally require about twelve months of established residency before the term starts. Moving to the state mainly to attend school usually does not count on its own. Evidence typically includes a Georgia driver's license, vehicle registration, state tax returns, voter registration or a lease. Dependent students are often judged on their parents' residency, and some military service members stationed in Georgia and their families qualify under special rules. Ask the registrar or admissions office for the residency form, submit it before the deadline, and keep copies of every document you provide.

HOPE is Georgia's merit-based aid program, run by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. The HOPE Scholarship supports degree-seeking students at eligible Georgia colleges and generally requires a 3.0 high school GPA. The Zell Miller Scholarship sets a higher academic standard, and the HOPE Grant supports certificate and diploma programs, including many at technical colleges. You apply through your GAfutures account and should also file the FAFSA. Rules, award amounts and deadlines are updated periodically, so check the current terms with the financial aid office at your college before you count on a specific amount.

Start by asking the school which accreditor approves it, then verify that claim with the accreditor directly. Regional accreditation comes from SACSCOC, which is based in Decatur, and the U.S. Department of Education keeps a database of recognized accreditors. Nonpublic schools operating in Georgia generally need authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, which also takes student complaints. For cosmetology, barbering and esthetics, confirm that the program meets State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers requirements. Read the enrollment agreement and refund policy before signing, and keep a copy.

Those names belong to institutions the University System of Georgia consolidated. Gainesville State College became part of the University of North Georgia in 2013, and its Mundy Mill Road site in Oakwood is now a UNG campus. Darton State College joined Albany State University in 2017. Middle Georgia State College became a university in 2015. The campuses usually still operate, but under the successor's name and systems. Call the listed number or search the successor institution's website for current admissions contacts, and request old transcripts from the successor's registrar.

Yes. Georgia's dual enrollment program lets eligible high school students take college courses at participating public and private colleges, with state funding covering eligible costs. Students earn credit toward high school graduation and a college certificate or degree at the same time. Start with your school counselor, who confirms eligibility, approves courses and helps with the application. Then contact the college's admissions or dual enrollment office to register, since each campus sets its own deadlines and placement requirements. Technical colleges like Gwinnett Technical College and Chattahoochee Technical College are common choices for career-focused courses.