Best Colleges in Georgia by Salary Potential
College is an investment — one that should pay off. Before you enroll, read about Georgia’s best four-year colleges by earning potential.
| Rank | School Name | School Type | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay | % High Meaning | % STEM Degrees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | School Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$79,000 | Mid-Career Pay:$145,300 | % High Meaning:48% | % STEM Degrees:81% |
| Rank:2 | School Name: Emory University | School Type:Private School, Religious, Research University | Early Career Pay:$68,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$125,800 | % High Meaning:46% | % STEM Degrees:23% |
| Rank:3 | School Name:_50px.jpg) University of Georgia | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$59,500 | Mid-Career Pay:$110,000 | % High Meaning:43% | % STEM Degrees:16% |
| Rank:4 | School Name: Morehouse College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School | Early Career Pay:$60,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$106,200 | % High Meaning:56% | % STEM Degrees:18% |
| Rank:5 | School Name: Kennesaw State University | School Type:Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$57,100 | Mid-Career Pay:$101,200 | % High Meaning:49% | % STEM Degrees:28% |
| Rank:6 | School Name: Georgia State University | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$55,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$96,200 | % High Meaning:48% | % STEM Degrees:19% |
| Rank:6 | School Name: Oglethorpe University | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School | Early Career Pay:$56,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$96,200 | % High Meaning:47% | % STEM Degrees:21% |
| Rank:8 | School Name:University of North Georgia | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$50,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$93,400 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:11% |
| Rank:9 | School Name: Georgia Southern University | School Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State School | Early Career Pay:$53,100 | Mid-Career Pay:$92,800 | % High Meaning:51% | % STEM Degrees:18% |
| Rank:10 | School Name:_50px.gif) Savannah College of Art and Design | School Type:Art, Private School | Early Career Pay:$51,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$89,400 | % High Meaning:35% | % STEM Degrees:2% |
| Rank:11 | School Name:Agnes Scott College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious, Sober School | Early Career Pay:$50,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$88,700 | % High Meaning:55% | % STEM Degrees:24% |
| Rank:12 | School Name: Spelman College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School | Early Career Pay:$56,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$88,200 | % High Meaning:47% | % STEM Degrees:22% |
| Rank:13 | School Name: Berry College | School Type:Private School, Sober School | Early Career Pay:$47,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$87,700 | % High Meaning:39% | % STEM Degrees:21% |
| Rank:13 | School Name: University of West Georgia | School Type:Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$50,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$87,700 | % High Meaning:54% | % STEM Degrees:7% |
| Rank:15 | School Name: Mercer University | School Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports Fans | Early Career Pay:$54,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$87,500 | % High Meaning:62% | % STEM Degrees:16% |
| Rank:16 | School Name:Augusta University | School Type:Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$49,400 | Mid-Career Pay:$86,600 | % High Meaning:71% | % STEM Degrees:13% |
| Rank:17 | School Name:_50px.png) Valdosta State University | School Type:Research University, State School | Early Career Pay:$47,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$85,100 | % High Meaning:55% | % STEM Degrees:7% |
| Rank:18 | School Name:_50px.gif) Georgia College & State University | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$50,000 | Mid-Career Pay:$84,600 | % High Meaning:52% | % STEM Degrees:10% |
| Rank:19 | School Name:_50px.png) Clark Atlanta University | School Type:Private School, Religious, Research University | Early Career Pay:$50,200 | Mid-Career Pay:$84,000 | % High Meaning:54% | % STEM Degrees:14% |
| Rank:20 | School Name:Covenant College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$48,800 | Mid-Career Pay:$83,100 | % High Meaning:64% | % STEM Degrees:12% |
| Rank:21 | School Name: LaGrange College | School Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$46,600 | Mid-Career Pay:$82,400 | % High Meaning:63% | % STEM Degrees:7% |
| Rank:22 | School Name:Piedmont University | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$44,300 | Mid-Career Pay:$82,300 | % High Meaning:43% | % STEM Degrees:2% |
| Rank:23 | School Name: Columbus State University | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$46,000 | Mid-Career Pay:$81,600 | % High Meaning:59% | % STEM Degrees:11% |
| Rank:24 | School Name:Shorter University | School Type:Private School, Religious | Early Career Pay:$48,700 | Mid-Career Pay:$80,700 | % High Meaning:58% | % STEM Degrees:4% |
| Rank:25 | School Name: Clayton State University | School Type:State School | Early Career Pay:$50,900 | Mid-Career Pay:$80,600 | % High Meaning:55% | % STEM Degrees:10% |
The Peach State is not only home to one of the biggest cities in the South (Atlanta), one of the biggest aquariums in the country and some of the most delicious peaches you’ll ever eat, but there are also many fantastic colleges in Georgia. Payscale’s College Salary Report includes alumni salaries for undergraduates who earn a bachelor’s degree (and no higher degree) from a number of Georgia colleges and universities.
Over the long haul, looking at the median salaries of alumni 10 years after graduation, the Georgia colleges with the highest-paid graduates often include the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University and the University of Georgia (UGA). Georgia Tech has garnered a lot of praise in recent years for its innovative new educational offerings, including an online program that allows students to earn a master’s degree in computer science for little expense. Seventy-one percent of the degrees awarded at The Georgia Institute of Technology are in STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) subjects.
Students looking for close personal attention should consider Emory University, where the student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1. Emory is a private college in Atlanta known for strong research programs. It is also a religious school, associated with the United Methodist Church.
Emory’s population of just under 8,000 students is a far cry from larger schools like Georgia State University, Kennesaw University and the University of Georgia, where school sizes are reported as more than 20,000 each.
Georgia is also home to some colleges with world-class athletic programs, including the Georgia State Panthers, the University of Georgia Bulldogs, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Kennesaw State Owls.