State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in Georgia

According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 123 Georgia colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.

Aid covers full cost
Cheapest net price
$16,482
Georgia median
123
Schools ranked

Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Atlanta Technical College has the lowest average net price in Georgia at Aid covers full cost, and the state's median net price is 4% below the $17,083 national median across 4,942 schools.

Aid covers full cost
cheapest ranked net price
$16,482
Georgia median net price
50 public / 73 private
schools in this ranking
$16,414
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Emory University, where in-state published tuition of $64,280 falls to an average net price of $22,585 after aid, a $41,695 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Georgia schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.

Across all 123 ranked Georgia schools, 50 are public institutions and 73 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.

Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.

Georgia's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1 Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GA · Public Aid covers full cost 102% of the leader · rank #1 Aid covers full cost $9,500 $27,097 3,493
2 Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GA · Public Aid covers full cost 100% of the leader · rank #2 Aid covers full cost - $29,888 4,137
3 Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA · Public $614 99% of the leader · rank #3 Aid covers full cost - $28,338 4,380
4 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA · Public $813 99% of the leader · rank #4 $423 - $29,304 5,072
5 South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA · Public $1,164 98% of the leader · rank #5 $388 - $28,744 1,725
6 West Georgia Technical College Carrollton, GA · Public $2,457 96% of the leader · rank #6 $1,311 $11,110 $32,803 6,722
7 Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA · Public $3,407 94% of the leader · rank #7 $2,561 - $31,998 9,842
8 Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA · Public $4,001 93% of the leader · rank #8 $3,383 $8,756 $28,884 3,153
9 North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA · Public $4,005 93% of the leader · rank #9 $3,525 $7,823 $32,856 2,696
10 Albany Technical College Albany, GA · Public $4,524 93% of the leader · rank #10 $4,308 $12,412 $26,734 2,761
11 Dalton State College Dalton, GA · Public $5,012 92% of the leader · rank #11 $3,962 $12,937 $37,491 4,902
12 Atlanta Metropolitan State College Atlanta, GA · Public $5,258 91% of the leader · rank #12 $4,288 $14,123 $26,849 1,551
13 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA · Public $5,661 91% of the leader · rank #13 $4,265 $9,500 $30,708 5,804
14 Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA · Public $5,720 91% of the leader · rank #14 $5,152 $6,421 $33,044 6,742
15 Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA · Public $6,114 90% of the leader · rank #15 $5,093 $3,258 $31,124 3,581
16 Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GA · Public $6,542 89% of the leader · rank #16 $5,607 $9,500 $30,803 2,264
17 Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA · Public $6,696 89% of the leader · rank #17 $5,171 $13,000 $35,660 9,726
18 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA · Public $6,842 89% of the leader · rank #18 $4,323 $16,750 $35,495 3,768
19 Georgia Highlands College Rome, GA · Public $6,928 89% of the leader · rank #19 $5,473 $12,000 $37,516 4,955
20 Athens Technical College Athens, GA · Public $6,949 89% of the leader · rank #20 $6,205 - $31,758 4,169
21 Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA · Public $7,052 88% of the leader · rank #21 $6,450 $9,608 $29,831 10,710
22 Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GA · Public $7,799 87% of the leader · rank #22 $7,307 - $34,471 6,145
23 Gordon State College Barnesville, GA · Public $8,105 87% of the leader · rank #23 $6,912 $17,500 $33,163 3,129
24 Savannah State University Savannah, GA · Public $8,172 87% of the leader · rank #24 $6,739 $28,000 $27,494 3,078
25 Clayton State University Morrow, GA · Public $8,365 86% of the leader · rank #25 $7,405 $25,706 $41,633 5,842
See all 123 ranked Georgia schools →
# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
26 South Georgia State College Douglas, GA · Public $8,767 86% of the leader · rank #26 $7,553 $11,500 $30,570 1,853
27 Beaver Beauty Academy Decatur, GA · Private for-profit $9,194 85% of the leader · rank #27 - - - 57
28 East Georgia State College Swainsboro, GA · Public $9,626 84% of the leader · rank #28 $8,278 $11,750 $30,593 1,756
29 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA · Public $9,823 84% of the leader · rank #29 $6,981 $17,750 $43,085 18,074
30 Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, GA · Public $10,338 83% of the leader · rank #30 $9,017 $31,000 $28,649 2,763
31 Augusta Technical College Augusta, GA · Public $10,485 83% of the leader · rank #31 $9,952 $4,500 $29,531 4,118
32 Southeastern Technical College Vidalia, GA · Public $10,612 83% of the leader · rank #32 $10,612 $5,750 $28,454 1,887
33 Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA · Public $10,945 82% of the leader · rank #33 $9,378 $24,779 $39,416 10,151
34 Georgia State University-Perimeter College Clarkston, GA · Public $11,453 81% of the leader · rank #34 $10,380 $20,903 $37,844 15,522
35 Albany State University Albany, GA · Public $11,898 80% of the leader · rank #35 $10,693 $25,024 $35,579 6,544
36 Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology Dalton, GA · Private for-profit $11,944 80% of the leader · rank #36 $11,633 $6,222 - 71
37 Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, GA · Public $12,019 80% of the leader · rank #37 $10,477 $18,851 $42,047 3,408
38 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public $12,116 80% of the leader · rank #38 $7,666 $21,672 $89,432 47,946
39 Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA · Public $12,361 80% of the leader · rank #39 $10,668 $19,000 $39,624 8,033
40 Wesleyan College Macon, GA · Private nonprofit $12,724 79% of the leader · rank #40 $11,045 $24,094 $35,630 641
41 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA · Public $12,786 79% of the leader · rank #41 $10,339 $23,970 $41,000 12,728
42 Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA · Public $12,844 79% of the leader · rank #42 $12,378 $6,514 $29,299 2,000
43 MAK Beauty Institute Cumming, GA · Private for-profit $13,085 78% of the leader · rank #43 - - - 9
44 Columbus State University Columbus, GA · Public $13,115 78% of the leader · rank #44 $11,271 $26,000 $39,190 7,610
45 Webb's Barber School of Arts Macon, GA · Private for-profit $13,568 78% of the leader · rank #45 $13,568 - - 18
46 Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA · Public $13,761 77% of the leader · rank #46 $13,608 $12,666 $32,264 2,977
47 Augusta University Augusta, GA · Public $13,787 77% of the leader · rank #47 $11,064 $20,500 $45,037 9,862
48 Augusta School of Massage Evans, GA · Private for-profit $13,892 77% of the leader · rank #48 $13,892 - $26,185 27
49 University of Georgia Athens, GA · Public $13,936 77% of the leader · rank #49 $8,085 $18,500 $57,565 41,615
50 Keune Academy by 124 Lawrenceville, GA · Private for-profit $14,097 77% of the leader · rank #50 $13,257 $9,833 $26,644 120
51 Georgia Institute of Cosmetology Athens, GA · Private for-profit $14,397 76% of the leader · rank #51 $12,232 $11,273 $19,940 250
52 Georgia Career Institute Conyers, GA · Private for-profit $14,966 75% of the leader · rank #52 $14,966 $7,735 $21,399 586
53 Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw Kennesaw, GA · Private for-profit $15,027 75% of the leader · rank #53 $14,696 $10,231 $21,743 165
54 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA · Public $15,048 75% of the leader · rank #54 $12,235 $23,833 $47,863 45,069
55 College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick, GA · Public $15,261 75% of the leader · rank #55 $13,298 $15,039 $35,382 3,189
56 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA · Public $15,267 75% of the leader · rank #56 $12,162 $23,250 $44,423 26,041
57 Pro Way Hair School Stone Mountain, GA · Private for-profit $15,458 75% of the leader · rank #57 $15,458 $12,500 $17,765 54
58 Interactive College of Technology-Chamblee Chamblee, GA · Private for-profit $15,506 74% of the leader · rank #58 $15,278 $10,555 $28,375 529
59 Georgia Gwinnett College Lawrenceville, GA · Public $15,844 74% of the leader · rank #59 $14,356 $20,076 $36,756 11,907
60 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA · Public $15,931 74% of the leader · rank #60 $13,787 $20,903 $37,844 34,974
61 Empire Beauty School-Gwinnett Lawrenceville, GA · Private for-profit $16,203 73% of the leader · rank #61 $16,030 $10,231 $21,743 75
62 American InterContinental University-Atlanta Atlanta, GA · Private for-profit $16,482 73% of the leader · rank #62 $16,482 $31,000 $27,823 729
63 Rivertown School of Beauty Barber Skin Care and Nails Columbus, GA · Private for-profit $16,487 73% of the leader · rank #63 $16,270 $9,500 $17,420 124
64 Shorter University Rome, GA · Private nonprofit $16,646 73% of the leader · rank #64 $15,929 $25,000 $41,860 1,447
65 Paine College Augusta, GA · Private nonprofit $16,670 73% of the leader · rank #65 $15,322 - $25,240 344
66 Empire Beauty School-Northlake Atlanta, GA · Private for-profit $16,685 73% of the leader · rank #66 $16,462 $13,583 $20,172 117
67 Profile Institute of Barber-Styling Atlanta, GA · Private for-profit $16,685 73% of the leader · rank #67 $16,638 - $14,915 26
68 Interactive College of Technology-Gainesville Gainesville, GA · Private for-profit $16,796 72% of the leader · rank #68 $16,686 $10,555 $28,375 47
69 Interactive College of Technology-Morrow Morrow, GA · Private for-profit $16,844 72% of the leader · rank #69 $16,208 $10,555 $28,375 113
70 Georgia Military College Milledgeville, GA · Public $16,923 72% of the leader · rank #70 $15,265 $8,563 $32,351 6,765
71 Empire Beauty School-Augusta Augusta, GA · Private for-profit $16,955 72% of the leader · rank #71 $16,503 $10,667 $20,215 88
72 Empire Beauty School-Morrow Morrow, GA · Private for-profit $16,962 72% of the leader · rank #72 $16,504 $10,667 $19,174 209
73 Empire Beauty School-Savannah Savannah, GA · Private for-profit $17,707 71% of the leader · rank #73 $17,063 $10,667 $19,897 137
74 Strayer University-Georgia Chamblee, GA · Private for-profit $18,318 70% of the leader · rank #74 $14,598 $40,621 $36,582 5,497
75 Thomas University Thomasville, GA · Private nonprofit $18,499 70% of the leader · rank #75 $15,640 $21,198 $45,305 1,583
76 Paul Mitchell the School-Esani Roswell, GA · Private for-profit $18,522 69% of the leader · rank #76 $16,558 $9,833 $24,107 337
77 Brenau University Gainesville, GA · Private nonprofit $18,924 69% of the leader · rank #77 $19,481 $27,000 $41,664 2,420
78 Oglethorpe University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit $19,509 68% of the leader · rank #78 $16,207 $25,000 $42,691 1,522
79 Piedmont University Demorest, GA · Private nonprofit $20,599 66% of the leader · rank #79 $15,416 $25,000 $43,761 1,840
80 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA · Public $20,686 66% of the leader · rank #80 $15,396 $22,250 $50,644 6,811
81 LaGrange College Lagrange, GA · Private nonprofit $20,875 66% of the leader · rank #81 $20,764 $25,730 $46,599 671
82 Emmanuel University Franklin Springs, GA · Private nonprofit $20,925 66% of the leader · rank #82 $17,735 $24,325 $37,595 896
83 Miller-Motte College-Macon Macon, GA · Private for-profit $21,074 65% of the leader · rank #83 $20,763 $15,917 $26,349 206
84 Miller-Motte College-Columbus Columbus, GA · Private for-profit $21,179 65% of the leader · rank #84 $21,138 $15,917 $26,349 270
85 Toccoa Falls College Toccoa Falls, GA · Private nonprofit $21,642 64% of the leader · rank #85 $20,825 $22,250 $33,131 2,532
86 Herzing University-Atlanta Sandy Springs, GA · Private nonprofit $21,679 64% of the leader · rank #86 $21,612 $21,500 $35,295 555
87 Andrew College Cuthbert, GA · Private nonprofit $21,823 64% of the leader · rank #87 $19,107 $12,533 $30,337 294
88 Young Harris College Young Harris, GA · Private nonprofit $22,034 64% of the leader · rank #88 $19,721 $27,000 $36,389 1,420
89 Miller-Motte College-Augusta Augusta, GA · Private for-profit $22,223 63% of the leader · rank #89 $22,161 $15,917 $26,349 524
90 Truett McConnell University Cleveland, GA · Private nonprofit $22,227 63% of the leader · rank #90 $21,274 $23,439 $39,193 2,714
91 Berry College Mount Berry, GA · Private nonprofit $22,320 63% of the leader · rank #91 $18,189 $23,250 $45,014 2,370
92 Emory University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit $22,585 63% of the leader · rank #92 $7,363 $18,250 $74,980 15,046
93 Fortis College-Smyrna Smyrna, GA · Private for-profit $23,657 61% of the leader · rank #93 $23,589 $12,547 $33,189 488
94 Mercer University Macon, GA · Private nonprofit $23,847 61% of the leader · rank #94 $19,817 $24,199 $50,231 9,124
95 Reinhardt University Waleska, GA · Private nonprofit $24,425 60% of the leader · rank #95 $21,877 $23,900 $40,411 1,170
96 Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA · Private nonprofit $24,754 59% of the leader · rank #96 $21,467 $26,749 $41,382 1,077
97 Morris Brown College Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit $24,901 59% of the leader · rank #97 $23,264 - - 343
98 Point University West Point, GA · Private nonprofit $25,335 58% of the leader · rank #98 $23,992 $25,250 $36,410 2,827
99 Helms College Macon, GA · Private nonprofit $25,358 58% of the leader · rank #99 $25,130 $9,500 $24,003 150
100 Brewton-Parker College Mount Vernon, GA · Private nonprofit $26,054 57% of the leader · rank #100 $24,574 $24,990 $35,732 1,123
101 Covenant College Lookout Mountain, GA · Private nonprofit $26,265 57% of the leader · rank #101 $18,310 $22,500 $39,570 928
102 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta Duluth, GA · Private for-profit $27,365 55% of the leader · rank #102 $26,379 $31,500 $46,459 779
103 Luther Rice College & Seminary Lithonia, GA · Private nonprofit $27,883 54% of the leader · rank #103 $27,883 $34,153 $39,300 556
104 DeVry University-Georgia Decatur, GA · Private for-profit $28,229 53% of the leader · rank #104 $28,229 $24,807 $42,178 487
105 South University-Savannah Savannah, GA · Private for-profit $28,743 53% of the leader · rank #105 $27,713 $26,123 $34,115 698
106 Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service Decatur, GA · Private nonprofit $29,047 52% of the leader · rank #106 $28,697 $16,417 $34,466 451
107 Life University Marietta, GA · Private nonprofit $29,791 51% of the leader · rank #107 $28,151 $16,666 $37,368 2,711
108 Elaine Sterling Institute Atlanta, GA · Private for-profit $30,314 50% of the leader · rank #108 $29,550 $9,500 $29,104 653
109 Lincoln College of Technology-Marietta Marietta, GA · Private for-profit $30,801 49% of the leader · rank #109 $30,296 $10,521 $32,694 438
110 United Education Institute-Stone Mountain Stone Mountain, GA · Private for-profit $32,174 47% of the leader · rank #110 $31,904 $9,500 $25,820 785
111 Hogan Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics Lilburn, GA · Private for-profit $32,724 46% of the leader · rank #111 $32,088 $10,666 - 71
112 Chamberlain University-Georgia Sandy Springs, GA · Private for-profit $33,188 45% of the leader · rank #112 $32,321 $20,919 $84,533 1,588
113 Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus Marietta, GA · Private for-profit $33,966 44% of the leader · rank #113 $32,761 $12,498 $28,112 168
114 Gwinnett College-Sandy Springs Roswell, GA · Private for-profit $34,071 44% of the leader · rank #114 $33,869 $9,500 $28,081 114
115 United Education Institute-Morrow Morrow, GA · Private for-profit $35,734 41% of the leader · rank #115 $35,601 $9,500 $29,172 1,119
116 Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit $37,702 38% of the leader · rank #116 $37,356 $27,000 $28,097 4,135
117 Atlanta Institute of Music and Media Duluth, GA · Private for-profit $37,832 38% of the leader · rank #117 $37,302 $15,411 $22,135 264
118 Emory University-Oxford College Oxford, GA · Private nonprofit $37,920 38% of the leader · rank #118 $24,758 $18,250 $74,980 973
119 Spelman College Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit $38,967 36% of the leader · rank #119 $32,923 $25,000 $45,676 3,633
120 Morehouse College Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit $39,013 36% of the leader · rank #120 $36,359 $25,000 $38,267 2,738
121 Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA · Private nonprofit $49,430 19% of the leader · rank #121 $44,858 $25,148 $34,110 17,575
122 Institute of Medical Ultrasound Atlanta, GA · Private for-profit $51,036 16% of the leader · rank #122 $51,036 $20,000 - 29
123 Miami Ad School-Atlanta Atlanta, GA · Private for-profit $60,682 4% of the leader · rank #123 $60,682 $25,967 $74,706 74

What this means for you

Use Georgia's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

  • Atlanta Technical College reports the lowest average net price in Georgia, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Atlanta Technical College
  • See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
  • Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Georgia safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Some schools on this page show "Aid covers full cost" instead of a dollar figure. This reflects real federal data: at a small number of low-cost institutions, mostly community colleges with strong state or federal grant programs, average grant and scholarship aid meets or exceeds the cost-of-attendance components used in the net-price calculation, producing a reported net price of $0 or below for the average aided student. It is not a display error.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.