Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia Ranked for Students in 2024

Badge for MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGES IN GEORGIA

Published: Mar 24, 2021
Updated: Jan 18, 2024

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Georgia. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia 2024

Georgia State University
University of Georgia
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Georgia Southern University
Clayton State University
Columbus State University
Dalton State College
Georgia Tech
Valdosta State University
University of West Georgia

University of Georgia
Georgia Tech
Georgia State University
Georgia Southern University
Savannah State University
University of West Georgia
Valdosta State University
Albany State University
Fort Valley State University
Georgia College & State University

Middle Georgia State University 100%
College of Coastal Georgia 98%
Georgia Gwinnett College 94%
Gordon State College 93%
Georgia Southern University 89%
Valdosta State University 89%
Columbus State University 88%
Georgia College & State University 80%
University of West Georgia 80%
Georgia Southwestern State University 73%

Georgia State University 26 to 1
College of Coastal Georgia 23 to 1
East Georgia State College 23 to 1
Atlanta Metropolitan State College 22 to 1
Georgia Southern University 22 to 1
Gordon State College 21 to 1
Savannah State University 21 to 1
Albany State University 20 to 1
Fort Valley State University 20 to 1
Georgia Highlands College 20 to 1

Paine College $14,596
Thomas University $11,080
Georgia Tech $10,258
University of Georgia $9,790
Georgia College & State University $7,508
Georgia State University $7,158
Columbus State University $4,371
University of West Georgia $4,371
Valdosta State University $4,371
Georgia Southern University $4,371

Georgia Tech $14,064
Thomas University $13,050
University of Georgia $8,878
Georgia State University $7,164
Columbus State University $6,300
Clayton State University $5,513
Georgia College & State University $5,292
Georgia Southern University $4,986
Savannah State University $4,686
Valdosta State University $4,572

Thomas University
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Gordon State College
East Georgia State College
College of Coastal Georgia
Georgia Highlands College
Middle Georgia State University
Paine College
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia College & State University

Thomas University
Gordon State College
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
East Georgia State College
College of Coastal Georgia
Georgia Highlands College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Georgia Gwinnett College
Dalton State College
Clayton State University

Georgia Tech 17%
Fort Valley State University 43%
University of Georgia 43%
Thomas University 46%
Paine College 52%
Clayton State University 56%
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 67%
Georgia State University 67%
Georgia Southwestern State University 73%
University of West Georgia 80%

Paine College 10 to 1
Thomas University 12 to 1
Georgia College & State University 15 to 1
University of West Georgia 16 to 1
Clayton State University 16 to 1
Columbus State University 17 to 1
Georgia Southwestern State University 17 to 1
Valdosta State University 17 to 1
University of Georgia 17 to 1
Middle Georgia State University 18 to 1

Georgia Highlands College $2,280
East Georgia State College $2,280
Atlanta Metropolitan State College $2,426
College of Coastal Georgia $2,563
Gordon State College $2,563
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College $2,563
Dalton State College $2,563
Middle Georgia State University $3,144
Georgia Gwinnett College $3,214
Albany State University $4,064

Albany State University $3,438
Georgia Southwestern State University $3,483
Middle Georgia State University $3,582
University of West Georgia $4,338
Fort Valley State University $4,344
Valdosta State University $4,572
Savannah State University $4,686
Georgia Southern University $4,986
Georgia College & State University $5,292
Clayton State University $5,513

Key Takeaways

The most affordable colleges in Georgia have an overall average tuition fee of $9k, which means that the state can offer some of the most affordable college degrees in the United States.
Students enrolling in online degree programs in Georgia should explore the University of Georgia and Georgia State University.
Students interested in agriculture programs should consider Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Georgia Southern University, two of the cheapest colleges in the nation.

Table of Contents

Georgia’s Top-Rated Colleges That Don’t Break the Bank

Georgia is a southeastern state with the most affordable university system in the United States. Cheap as they come, colleges in Georgia offer high-quality education, especially in the field of nursing and health sciences, business administration, computer science, agriculture, liberal arts, and many more.

And because of its public research university status, Georgia residents can also take advantage of inexpensive medical schools and business school studies.

Georgia also has of the most affordable online colleges in the nation, including the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Clayton State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, and Columbus State University.

These schools offer plenty of affordable undergraduate degrees that students can complete online. The state also provides the best financial aid opportunities for students studying for doctoral degrees.

Financial Aid Opportunities in Georgia

Thurgood Marshall College Fund: The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is one of the most well-known financial aid opportunities. This is the largest funded organization available for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) and publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The TMCF is a key resource for K-12 and higher education through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, creative programming, and strategic partnerships. The group is a resource for prestigious organizations looking for top candidates for coveted internships and high-paying employment.

Scholarship, Grant, and Loan Programs: The Georgia Student Finance Commission gives Georgia residents access to the best scholarship, grant, and loan programs, making a quality education even more affordable. Listed below are a few of the options:

In Georgia, more than half of an institution’s student body receives financial aid, especially those enrolled in an undergraduate program. Even the cheapest colleges in Georgia allow students to obtain financial aid, frequently resulting in a substantial tuition fee reduction.

Colleges with accreditation, such as from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, offer the best and most varied financial assistance for on-campus and online students.

Reasons Why College Education in Georgia is Affordable

For many international students, Georgia offers a cheap cost of living. Most students concur that Georgia is a terrific state for your wallet, regardless of where they came from.

Here are reasons why many international students favor Georgia:

1. Tuition Fees: Georgia tuition fees can cost up to $54,000 for the most expensive private colleges and universities. On the other hand, public universities, such as Dalton State College, offer the lowest tuition fee at an average of $4,000 a year.

2. Transportation Cost: Georgia’s transportation system is quite dependable because it has adequate metro connectivity. Taxify and Yandex are the taxi companies in Georgia. It is, therefore, reasonably priced for all students.

3. Living Cost: Georgia is among the least expensive states in the nation, according to World Populations Review. With costs 25% lower than the national average, Georgia has the fourth-lowest housing costs in the nation. Over 40% of residents can buy a new home, ranking among the highest in the country for housing affordability.

4. Associate’s Programs: Georgia’s online associate’s programs are some of the best in the country. Pursuing an associate’s degree can be a great way of saving money for students long-term, as well as allowing them to make more money in their work as they receive further degrees. Going to school online also helps potentially lower housing and living costs if students can live at home.

Georgia Economic Outlook

Since 2019, Georgia’s overall economic activity has grown by about 3%. The number of jobs in Georgia increased by 2% in the previous year.

Georgia has a diverse range of profitable industries, with real estate, manufacturing, banking and insurance, and information technology accounting for its top four revenue generators.

The industries with the fastest rising employment were those related to transportation, management, construction, and the arts. This indicates a high employment rate for high-paying positions like operations managers, environmental engineers, systems analysts, and marketing managers.

Colleges and Universities in Georgia

The state of Georgia is home to 70 colleges and universities. 38 of these schools are public institutions, each offering a wide variety of traditional and online courses as well as a full range of graduate programs for both on-campus and online students.

The University of Georgia, located in the city of Athens, is the largest college in Georgia, with over 35,000 students. Those attending Georgia State University and Georgia Southern University will enter into a friendly athletics rivalry. Tuition at Georgia State costs $9,000, and at Georgia Southern, $6,000.

Both the University of Georgia and Georgia State University are among the 36 colleges in Georgia offering online degree programs.

In addition, there are numerous fully online colleges in Georgia with accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Of the 20 religiously affiliated colleges and schools in Georgia, Emory University has both the highest tuition at just over $50,000 per year, and the largest private school student population, with over 13,000 in attendance.

Georgia is also home to the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design, which offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture, advertising, art history, and more.

Prospective students looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree can choose from an extremely broad range of in-class and online programs.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Both traditional and online students in Georgia can earn degrees in religious studies, business, social work, law, and computer science. Those looking to attend technical colleges can also choose from a handful of brick-and-mortar and online colleges that offer two-year degrees in medicine, nursing, and education.

Part of the University System of Georgia, Atlanta Metropolitan State college is the state’s most affordable college at $3,000. Students at Atlanta Metropolitan can major in fields like mathematics, criminal justice, and philosophy. Most degree programs are available through in-person or online programs.

Georgia is home to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and the Okefenokee Swamp, which is the largest such water-mass in North America. This diverse landscape in The Peach State provides Georgia’s college and graduate students with a beautiful backdrop for an education. It’s also worth noting that Georgia residents who enroll in fully online programs at public universities or community colleges in Georgia will still receive in-state tuition discounts.

Georgia also offers a loan repayment-based financial aid program for qualifying graduates in the medical field through the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce. Check out the best traditional and online degree programs and top career paths this southern state has to offer.

What are Georgia’s Colleges & Universities?

Georgia’s Best Overall

How do we determine Georgia's best affordable colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

There are 26 colleges and universities in Georgia with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Georgia is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia 2023

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

Build your own college ranking

Looking for more ways to save money while pursuing your college degree? Check out our guide to budgeting for college students.

Georgia’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia Ranked for Students in 2024

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia 2024

Key Takeaways

Georgia’s Top-Rated Colleges That Don’t Break the Bank

Financial Aid Opportunities in Georgia

Reasons Why College Education in Georgia is Affordable

Georgia Economic Outlook

Colleges and Universities in Georgia

What are Georgia’s Colleges & Universities?

Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Georgia Tech

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Georgia

Most Influential Alumni

University of Georgia’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Georgia State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Georgia Southern University

Most Influential Alumni

Georgia Southern University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Valdosta State University

Most Influential Alumni

Valdosta State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of West Georgia

Most Influential Alumni

University of West Georgia’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Savannah State University

Most Influential Alumni

Savannah State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Albany State University

Most Influential Alumni

Albany State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Fort Valley State University

Most Influential Alumni

Fort Valley State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Dalton State College

Dalton State College’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Columbus State University

Most Influential Alumni

Columbus State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Georgia College & State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Georgia Southwestern State University

Most Influential Alumni

Georgia Southwestern State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Clayton State University

Most Influential Alumni

Clayton State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Paine College

Most Influential Alumni

Paine College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations