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.

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Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusSchool Type:Engineering, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$79,000Mid-Career Pay:$145,300% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:81%
Rank:2School Name:Emory UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Religious, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$68,400Mid-Career Pay:$125,800% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:23%
Rank:3School Name:University of GeorgiaSchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$59,500Mid-Career Pay:$110,000% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:16%
Rank:4School Name:Morehouse CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$60,300Mid-Career Pay:$106,200% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:5School Name:Kennesaw State UniversitySchool Type:Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$57,100Mid-Career Pay:$101,200% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:28%
Rank:6School Name:Georgia State UniversitySchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$55,300Mid-Career Pay:$96,200% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:19%
Rank:6School Name:Oglethorpe UniversitySchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$56,600Mid-Career Pay:$96,200% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:8School Name:University of North GeorgiaSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$50,300Mid-Career Pay:$93,400% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:11%
Rank:9School Name:Georgia Southern UniversitySchool Type:Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$53,100Mid-Career Pay:$92,800% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:18%
Rank:10School Name:Savannah College of Art and DesignSchool Type:Art, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$51,800Mid-Career Pay:$89,400% High Meaning:35%% STEM Degrees:2%
Rank:11School Name:Agnes Scott CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, Religious, Sober SchoolEarly Career Pay:$50,400Mid-Career Pay:$88,700% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:24%
Rank:12School Name:Spelman CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$56,900Mid-Career Pay:$88,200% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:22%
Rank:13School Name:Berry CollegeSchool Type:Private School, Sober SchoolEarly Career Pay:$47,700Mid-Career Pay:$87,700% High Meaning:39%% STEM Degrees:21%
Rank:13School Name:University of West GeorgiaSchool Type:Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$50,400Mid-Career Pay:$87,700% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:15School Name:Mercer UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$54,800Mid-Career Pay:$87,500% High Meaning:62%% STEM Degrees:16%
Rank:16School Name:Augusta UniversitySchool Type:Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$49,400Mid-Career Pay:$86,600% High Meaning:71%% STEM Degrees:13%
Rank:17School Name:Valdosta State UniversitySchool Type:Research University, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$47,900Mid-Career Pay:$85,100% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:18School Name:Georgia College & State UniversitySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$50,000Mid-Career Pay:$84,600% High Meaning:52%% STEM Degrees:10%
Rank:19School Name:Clark Atlanta UniversitySchool Type:Private School, Religious, Research UniversityEarly Career Pay:$50,200Mid-Career Pay:$84,000% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:14%
Rank:20School Name:Covenant CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$48,800Mid-Career Pay:$83,100% High Meaning:64%% STEM Degrees:12%
Rank:21School Name:LaGrange CollegeSchool Type:Liberal Arts School, Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$46,600Mid-Career Pay:$82,400% High Meaning:63%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:22School Name:Piedmont UniversitySchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$44,300Mid-Career Pay:$82,300% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:2%
Rank:23School Name:Columbus State UniversitySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$46,000Mid-Career Pay:$81,600% High Meaning:59%% STEM Degrees:11%
Rank:24School Name:Shorter UniversitySchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$48,700Mid-Career Pay:$80,700% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:25School Name:Clayton State UniversitySchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$50,900Mid-Career Pay:$80,600% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:10%

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College Student

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.