Georgia’s Most Affordable Colleges and Universities of 2021

Colleges and Universities in Georgia

Georgia has 70 colleges and universities, 38 of which are public institutions. The University of Georgia, located in the city of Athens, is the largest, 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. Of the 20 religiously affiliated schools, Emory University has both the highest tuition, just over $50,000, and student population, with over 13,000 in attendance. Whether you’re looking to earn your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Georgia schools offer plenty of options.

Students 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 schools 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, and its students can major in fields like mathematics, criminal justice, and philosophy.

The Blue Ridge Mountains, oak and hickory forests, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain all make their home in Georgia, but the state’s most notable landform is the Okefenokee Swamp, 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.

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

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We’ve identified 23 affordable colleges and universities in Georgia with stated tuitions and fees below the national average of $16,000/year.

1. It must be fully accredited.
2. It must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees
3. Its stated tuition and fees must be under $16,000/year.

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

The best colleges pound for pound!

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why, at the undergraduate level, we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call Concentrated Influence. Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.

Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger universities. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights undergraduate schools that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.

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.

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

Find out more about our ranking methodology here.

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Most Affordable Colleges & Universities in Georgia

1. 

   #1

   East Georgia State College

   #5288 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $3K

   Student body

   2K

   Swainsboro, GA

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   What is East Georgia State College known for?

   East Georgia State College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Biology
   • Education

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Proper Einstein
2. 

   #2

   Georgia Highlands College

   #4495 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $3K

   Student body

   4K

   Rome, GA

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   What is Georgia Highlands College known for?

   Georgia Highlands College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Nursing
   • Medical

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Jarrod Barnes
3. 

   #3

   Atlanta Metropolitan State College

   #6522 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $3K

   Student body

   2K

   Atlanta, GA

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   What is Atlanta Metropolitan State College known for?

   Atlanta Metropolitan State College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Criminal Justice
   • Computer Science
   • Mathematics

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Richard Jeter
4. 

   #4

   Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

   #8673 institution's overall influence

   #223 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   Acceptance

   69%

   Graduation

   23%

   Student body

   4K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1030/19

   Tifton, GA

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   What is Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College known for?

   Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • History
   • Nursing
   • Computer Science
   • Criminal Justice
   • Business
   • Communications
   • Medical
5. 

   #5

   Gordon State College

   #9134 institution's overall influence

   #599 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   Acceptance

   71%

   Graduation

   50%

   Student body

   3K

   Median SAT/ACT

   945/17

   Barnesville, GA

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   What is Gordon State College known for?

   Gordon State College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Mathematics
   • Nursing
   • Education

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Rufus Carrollton Harris
   • Emily Barnelia Woodward
6. 

   #6

   Dalton State College

   #4923 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   Graduation

   20%

   Student body

   4K

   Dalton, GA

   View profile

   What is Dalton State College known for?

   Dalton State College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Social Work
   • Psychology
   • Criminal Justice
   • Mathematics
   • Nursing
   • Chemistry
   • Biology
   • Education
7. 

   #7

   Middle Georgia State University

   #5291 institution's overall influence

   #1417 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   Acceptance

   92%

   Graduation

   33%

   Student body

   6K

   Median SAT/ACT

   980/18

   Macon, GA

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   What is Middle Georgia State University known for?

   Middle Georgia State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Mathematics
   • Nursing
   • History
   • Computer Science
   • Education
8. 

   #8

   College of Coastal Georgia

   #7479 institution's overall influence

   #1244 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $5K

   Acceptance

   93%

   Graduation

   24%

   Student body

   3K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1005/19

   Brunswick, GA

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   What is College of Coastal Georgia known for?

   College of Coastal Georgia's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Nursing
   • Business
   • Criminal Justice
   • Biology
   • Medical
   • Education
9. 

   #9

   Georgia Gwinnett College

   #11808 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $5K

   Graduation

   17%

   Student body

   10K

   Lawrenceville, GA

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   What is Georgia Gwinnett College known for?

   Georgia Gwinnett College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Criminal Justice
   • Mathematics
   • Political Science
   • Biology
   • Psychology
   • Nursing
   • Medical
   • Education
   • Business
10. 

    #10

    Georgia Southwestern State University

    #3568 institution's overall influence

    #1065 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Acceptance

    69%

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1030/20

    Americus, GA

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    What is Georgia Southwestern State University known for?

    Georgia Southwestern State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Earth Sciences
    • Political Science
    • Nursing
    • Medical
    • Education
    • Computer Science
    • Sociology
    • Business
    • Biology
    • History

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Jimmy Carter
    • Jaha Dukureh
    • Dick West
    • Etchu Tabe
11. 

    #11

    Clayton State University

    #7847 institution's overall influence

    #118 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Acceptance

    54%

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    6K

    Morrow, GA

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    What is Clayton State University known for?

    Clayton State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Criminal Justice
    • Philosophy
    • Business
    • Communications
    • History
    • Education
    • Nursing

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Gail Buckner
    • Shazia Syed
    • Rick Jeffares
    • Nkiru Okosieme
    • Chris Klute
    • Nikki Sawyer
    • Janiel Simon
12. 

    #12

    Albany State University

    #2821 institution's overall influence

    #1300 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    825/16

    Albany, GA

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    What is Albany State University known for?

    Albany State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Nursing
    • Chemistry
    • Sociology
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • Psychology
    • Medical
    • Biology
    • Communications
    • Criminal Justice

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Shirley Sherrod
    • Elmer Samuel Imes
    • Bernice Johnson Reagon
    • Shaun R. Harper
    • Jo Marie Payton
    • Richard V. Moore
13. 

    #13

    Savannah State University

    #1594 institution's overall influence

    #226 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    29%

    Graduation

    27%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1300/23

    Savannah, GA

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    What is Savannah State University known for?

    Savannah State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Social Work
    • Chemistry
    • Criminal Justice
    • Mathematics
    • Sociology
    • Earth Sciences
    • Biology
    • Political Science
    • Literature
    • Business

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Jeffrey Catherine Jones
    • Charles Elmore
    • W. W. Law
    • Cyrus G. Wiley
    • George E. Kent
    • Walter E. Gaskin
    • Donnie Cochran
    • Thomas H. Cook
    • Annie B. Andrews
    • Aldrith L. Baker
14. 

    #14

    Columbus State University

    #3707 institution's overall influence

    #166 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    56%

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    985/20

    Columbus, GA

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    What is Columbus State University known for?

    Columbus State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Earth Sciences
    • Criminal Justice
    • Computer Science
    • Chemistry
    • Mathematics
    • Communications
    • Engineering
    • Political Science
    • History
    • Education

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Larry Wortzel
    • Rick Lowe
    • Ma Dong-seok
    • Max Conze
    • George N. Turner
    • Roderick Cox
    • Lisa Marrache
    • Cale Dodds
    • Brian Mallette
    • Mark Immelman
    • Greg Frady
    • Ruslan Apostolov
15. 

    #15

    University of West Georgia

    #1906 institution's overall influence

    #204 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    58%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1000/20

    Carrollton, GA

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    What is University of West Georgia known for?

    University of West Georgia's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Psychology
    • Physics
    • Mathematics
    • Computer Science
    • Nursing
    • History
    • Education
    • Political Science
    • Medical
    • Business

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Randy Evans
    • John M. Brown III
    • Creflo Dollar
    • Matthew O'Brien
    • Rhubarb Jones
    • Julian Stanley
    • John Barge
    • Patricia Wilcox
    • Debbie W. Gordon
    • Robert R. Hood
16. 

    #16

    Georgia Southern University

    #1684 institution's overall influence

    #187 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    47%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1130/23

    Statesboro, GA

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    What is Georgia Southern University known for?

    Georgia Southern University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Criminal Justice
    • Engineering
    • Computer Science
    • Chemistry
    • Political Science
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Mathematics
    • Nursing
    • Education

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Dan T. Cathy
    • Corina Newsome
    • Lee Rogers Berger
    • Julian Stanley
    • Walton Goggins
    • Shawn Arévalo McCollough
    • James Kicklighter
    • Patrika Darbo
    • Matt Ramsey
    • Adrian Peterson
    • Jerry Franklin
    • Hala Moddelmog
17. 

    #17

    Valdosta State University

    #1890 institution's overall influence

    #1216 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    63%

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1070/21

    Valdosta, GA

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    What is Valdosta State University known for?

    Valdosta State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Chemistry
    • Nursing
    • Biology
    • Sociology
    • History
    • Computer Science
    • Education
    • Psychology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Nancy Grace
    • Pauley Perrette
    • Elsie Quarterman
    • Ray McKinnon
    • Brad Carter
    • Richard Woods
    • Agnes Ellen Harris
    • Briny Baird
    • Tim Golden
    • Heath McNease
    • Marc Thomas Treadwell
    • Debra Fordham
18. 

    #18

    Fort Valley State University

    #2295 institution's overall influence

    #154 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    61%

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    951/18

    Fort Valley, GA

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    What is Fort Valley State University known for?

    Fort Valley State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Mathematics
    • Social Work
    • Sociology
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Psychology
    • History
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computer Science

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Jo Ann Robinson
    • Shirley Sherrod
    • John Wesley Blassingame
    • Genevieve M. Knight
    • Ricardo Lockette
    • Catherine Hardy Lavender
    • Ulysses Byas
    • James E. Adair
    • Dorothy Smith-Ruiz
19. 

    #19

    Georgia State University

    #519 institution's overall influence

    #975 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    32K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1155/23

    Atlanta, GA

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    What is Georgia State University known for?

    Georgia State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Criminal Justice
    • Business
    • Computer Science
    • Social Work
    • Nursing
    • Communications
    • Engineering
    • Psychology
    • Political Science
    • Sociology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Henry Jenkins
    • Julia Roberts
    • Ludacris
    • Lita
    • Foley Beach
    • David Liss
    • Mike Malloy
    • Sandra Mackey
    • Phil Agcaoili
    • Ken Lewis
    • Hank Huckaby
    • Jody Powell
20. 

    #20

    Georgia College & State University

    #1266 institution's overall influence

    #1195 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    59%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1195/25

    Milledgeville, GA

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    What is Georgia College & State University known for?

    Georgia College & State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Literature
    • Philosophy
    • Nursing
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • History
    • Education
    • Biology
    • Business

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Flannery O'Connor
    • Jackson Pearce
    • Helen Matthews Lewis
    • Sandra Deal
    • Susan Dowdell Myrick
    • Ashlee Adams Crews
    • Helen Gray Crotwell
    • Julius Joseph
    • Emily Dolvin
21. 

    #21

    University of Georgia

    #138 institution's overall influence

    #58 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    49%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1325/29

    Athens, GA

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    What is University of Georgia known for?

    University of Georgia's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Social Work
    • Law
    • Education
    • Medical
    • History
    • Business
    • Chemistry
    • Engineering
    • Sociology
    • Computer Science

    Most Influential Alumni

    • James E. Boyd
    • Natasha Trethewey
    • Henry W. Grady
    • Marion L. Brittain
    • Eugene Theodore Booth, Jr.
    • Joseph LeConte
    • Charlayne Hunter-Gault
    • Alfred Blalock
    • Delia Owens
    • Deborah Blum
    • Bjørn Lomborg
    • John Archibald Campbell
22. 

    #22

    Georgia Institute of Technology

    #145 institution's overall influence

    #39 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    22%

    Graduation

    86%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1465/32

    Atlanta, GA

    View profile

    What is Georgia Institute of Technology known for?

    Georgia Institute of Technology's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Engineering
    • Computer Science
    • Chemistry
    • Communications
    • Business
    • Physics
    • Mathematics
    • Earth Sciences
    • History
    • Biology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Kary Mullis
    • G. Wayne Clough
    • John Young
    • Dean Kamen
    • Ángel Cabrera
    • Glen P. Robinson
    • W. Harry Vaughan
    • Cherry Logan Emerson
    • Maurice W. Long
    • Cecil B. Day
    • Gabriel A. Rincon-Mora
    • Wallace H. Coulter
23. 

    #23

    Paine College

    #2592 institution's overall influence

    #617 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    40%

    Graduation

    20%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    880/16

    Augusta, GA

    View profile

    What is Paine College known for?

    Paine College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Mathematics
    • Religious Studies
    • Literature
    • Sociology
    • Communications
    • Philosophy
    • Education
    • Chemistry
    • History
    • Biology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Joseph Lowery
    • Louis Lomax
    • Mack Gipson
    • Shirley Mathis McBay
    • Channing Heggie Tobias
    • Pastor Troy
    • Jim Dent
    • Yusef Riley
    • Dorothy Hollingsworth
    • Woodie W. White
    • Marshall Gilmore
24. 

    #24

    Thomas University

    #9657 institution's overall influence

    #120 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    48%

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    <1K

    Thomasville, GA

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    What is Thomas University known for?

    Thomas University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Biology
    • Medical

    Most Influential Alumni

    • David McGuire
    • Keith Dunne
    • Rowan Liburd
25. 

    #25

    Andrew College

    #10183 institution's overall influence

    #768 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    43%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    930/16

    Cuthbert, GA

    View profile

    What is Andrew College known for?

    Andrew College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Mathematics
    • Communications
    • Nursing
    • History
    • Education
    • Medical

    Most Influential Alumni

    • James C. McDearmon
26. 

    #26

    Brewton–Parker College

    #6588 institution's overall influence

    #982 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    22%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    957/17

    Mount Vernon, GA

    View profile

    What is Brewton–Parker College known for?

    Brewton–Parker College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Biology
    • Religious Studies
    • Education

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Michelle Samuel-Foo
    • Etchu Tabe

Find the most affordable colleges in Georgia for your major