Applying to colleges is a very exciting time in one’s life! With all of the excitement comes really big decisions – decisions that will have an impact on the path your life will move forward on. Atlanta has a wide variety of options to explore in your search for colleges to attend. Here’s a breakdown of the options by the type of college or university as well as what they’re best known for!
Follow this link for detailed comparisons on the different types of colleges and universities: https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-colleges-4689039
Four-Year Institutions
Public Colleges and Universities in Atlanta, GA
Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech) – Georgia Tech is ranked the #1 4-Year College in Atlanta. It is most popular for its engineering programs, with top majors being Mechanical Engineering, Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Civil Engineering. Before financial aid, it costs about $30,000 per year and has a 86% graduation rate.
Georgia State University – Georgia State offers a wide variety of programs with 55 undergraduate and graduate degree options in more than 250 fields of study. It’s most popular majors include Psychology, Biology, Marketing, and Finance. Before financial aid, it costs about $30,000 per year and has a 52% graduation rate.
Private Colleges and Universities in Atlanta, GA
Emory University – Emory University is ranked #25 in the top nations in the United States, considered a “Southern Ivy.” It is a research university and receives record amounts of funding towards their research programs and initiatives ($894 million last year alone). They are known for their school of medicine, but offer other popular programs like Registered Nursing, Biology, Neuroscience, Econometrics, Psychology, and Chemistry. Before financial aid, it costs about $73,000 per year and has a 90% graduation rate.
Clark Atlanta University – Clark is a private methodist college and was the first HBCU in the southern states. It features programs not as popular elsewhere such as Radio, Television, and Digital Communication and Criminal Justice and Safety Studies. Before financial aid, it costs about $39,000 per year and has a 37% graduation rate.
Art Institute of Atlanta – Art Institute of Atlanta is located in Dunwoody, GA and is known for their Design, Fashion, Media Arts, and Culinary Programs – a great option for anyone looking to major in the arts! Although a four-year school, its programs are career-focused, much like a technical college. It is a part of a system of 8 schools and online programs. Before financial aid, it costs about $33,000 per year and has a 16% graduation rate.
Herzing University – Herzing University is in the center of downtown Atlanta. It is common with international students, giving it a diverse student population. Herzing is known for its Nursing, Information and Technology, and Legal Studies programs. One of the lowest costing of the private colleges in Atlanta, it costs about $30,000 per year and has a 20% graduation rate.
Atlanta Intercontinental University – Atlanta Intercontinental University is a subsidiary of American Continental University. Their most popular majors are Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Healthcare Administration. Before financial aid, it costs about $22,000 per year and has a 14% graduation rate.
Liberal Arts Colleges in Atlanta, GA
Agnes Scott College – Agnes Scott is a private women’s liberal arts college in Decatur, GA. It is ranked #1 Most Innovative National Liberal Arts College by the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 edition of “Best Colleges.” The most popular majors are public health, social sciences, and psychology. Before financial aid, it costs about $57,000 per year and has a 70% graduation rate. With just over 1,000 students, the average class has about a 11:1 teacher to student ratio.
Spelman College – Spelman College is a historically black liberal arts college for women, located in Atlanta. Their most popular programs are Psychology, Political Science, Biology, Economics, and English Literature. Spelman College is known as a Black Ivy League, an HBCU attracting high performing and affluent students. Before financial aid, it costs about $55,000 per year and has a 78% graduation rate.
Oglethorpe University – Oglethorpe University is located in Brookhaven, GA and is housed on a beautiful, historic campus. With less than 1,500 students enrolled, students receive an individualized education. Their most popular majors are Business Administration, Communications, Biology, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Biopsychology. Before financial aid, it costs about $57,000 per year and has a 46% graduation rate.
Morehouse College – Morehouse College is a men’s HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) in Atlanta, GA. It is one of four men’s colleges in the United States. In the heart of the city, the campus covers 61 acres. Morehouse College is the #1 producer of black men who go on to receive doctorate degrees. It is known for the Morehouse School of Medicine, but offers a variety of programs and majors. Before financial aid, it costs about $48,000 per year and has a 51% graduation rate.
Two-Year Institutions
Community Colleges and Trade Schools / Technical Colleges in Atlanta, GA
While Community Colleges and Technical Colleges are often used interchangeably, a Community College offers a general education towards an associates degree and a Technical College offers specialized career specific programs.
Atlanta Technical College – Atlanta Technical Colleges is one of the most cost-friendly colleges in Atlanta, with tuition costing about $11,000 per year before financial aid. It also offers the widest variety of associates degrees and technical certificate programs including (but definitely not limited to) Accounting, Barbering, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Early Childhood, Paralegal Studies, and Radiologic Technology. See all of their programs of study here: https://atlantatech.smartcatalogiq.com/2021-2022/College-Catalog/Programs-of-Study
SAE Institute – The SAE Institute is located in Atlanta, GA. It is known for its programs in media and digital arts. Their most popular programs and degrees are Game Development, Audio Technology, Entertainment Business, and Digital Film. It costs about $24,000 per year and currently enrolls around 800 students.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College (Formerly Dekalb Technical) – Georgia Piedmont Technical College offers Associate Degree programs, Diploma programs, and Technical Certificate Programs. Their most popular programs are Automotive, Early Childhood Education and Care, Healthcare and Legal Studies. It costs about $20,000 per year, with some programs able to be completed within one year.
Gwinnett Technical College – Gwinnett Tech is located just outside of Atlanta in Lawrenceville, GA. It offers more than 140 associate degree, diploma and certificates programs with a focus on real-world job skills. They offer programs in Engineering, Business, Computer Sciences, Nursing, Health Services, and Public and Professional Services. For a full catalog of their programs, visit: https://gwinnetttech.edu/programs/. Before financial aid, it costs about $27,000 per year to attend Gwinnett Tech.
Interactive College of Technology – The Interactive College of Technology is located just outside of the perimeter in Chamblee, GA. It offers both Associates Degree programs as well as a variety of short-term diploma programs. Their most popular programs are Business and Technology, Medical Office Administration, and HVAC and Commercial Refrigeration trades. They also offer a unique program on Vocational English as a Second Language. Before financial aid, it costs about $21,000 per year, with some programs able to be completed within one year.