The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Georgia
What’s Covered:
- The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Georgia
- Tips for Saving Money on College
- How Much Will You Pay for College?
Whether it’s the location of the school or the quality of the food in the cafeteria, there’s a lot to consider when choosing a college. Another factor to consider in the decision-making of many college-bound students is expense. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, two-thirds of students rated cost as a “very important” influence when choosing a college.
The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Georgia
1. Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $3,248/$10,400
Location: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,551
Atlanta Metropolitan State College (AMSC) is a commuter school located just ten minutes from downtown Atlanta. Founded in 1974 with an initial enrollment of about 500 students, the college now serves nearly three times that number. AMSC offers more than 20 degree and certificate programs in fields such as the arts, business, science, and technology.
Although AMSC is primarily a commuter school, there’s no shortage of on-campus activities. Students can join organizations like the Horror Film Club, NASA Club, STEM Club, CEO Club, and the Brother-2-Brother program—an initiative focused on increasing the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of African American and Latino students at AMSC.
Learn more about Atlanta Metropolitan State College and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $3,268/$10,588
Location: Tifton, GA
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,768
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) began as a high school for just 27 students in 1908, but has grown into one of the 26 members of the University System of Georgia. As its name implies, ABAC is best known for its Agriculture and Natural Resource programs, but it also offers tracks in fields such as the arts, sciences, and business. Despite its affordability, ABAC is notable for its excellent dorms and delicious food, which help ensure a positive college experience.
Learn more about Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and what it takes to get accepted.
3. South Georgia State College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $3,314/$10,274
Location: Douglas, GA
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,853
South Georgia State College (SGSC) is a small institution with a close-knit community and a strong focus on personal attention for students—yet it’s large enough to offer a true college experience. SGSC currently offers five bachelor’s degree programs:
- Biological Sciences
- Management
- Nursing
- Early Childhood/Special Education
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
South Georgia State College is spread across two campuses—Douglas and Waycross—both of which provide ample green space with all the other amenities of college, such as academic buildings, athletic facilities, and libraries.
Learn more about South Georgia State College and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Dalton State College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $3,336/$10,656
Location: Dalton, GA
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,902
Located in northwest Georgia, Dalton State College offers students the opportunity to earn a variety of bachelor’s degrees—ranging from accounting to sociology—as well as a multitude of associate’s degrees and certificate programs.
In 2014, Dalton State welcomed its first Greek organization to campus; in the following years, two more Greek organizations were added. Dalton State College is Georgia’s first—and one of only two—Hispanic-Serving Institution, a designation given to schools with 25% or more full-time undergraduate Hispanic or Latino students.
Learn more about Dalton State College and what it takes to get accepted.
5. College of Coastal Georgia
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $3,616/$10,936
Location: Brunswick, GA
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,189
The College of Coastal Georgia delivers an interactive and affordable education in one of the state’s most beautiful natural areas, the Golden Isles. The College of Coastal Georgia offers a variety of degrees, ranging from American studies to workforce management and leadership. The college also provides a handful of “academic pathways,” which are associate’s degrees that move into four-year bachelor’s programs.
Learn more about the College of Coastal Georgia and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Gordon State College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $3,628/$10,948
Location: Barnesville, GA
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,129
Gordon State College traces its roots back to a small schoolhouse built in the quiet town of Barnesville in 1832. Today, the college offers 19 degrees—11 bachelor’s and 8 associate’s—through its three schools:
- School of Business and Professional Studies
- School of Education, Arts, and Humanities
- School of Nursing, Health, and STEM
An overwhelming number of Gordon State College’s two-year students (roughly 70%) continue into four-year programs.
Learn more about Gordon State College and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Georgia Gwinnett College
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $4,532/$13,844
Location: Lawrenceville, GA
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,907
Opening its doors just in 2006, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is the first four-year public college in the U.S. founded in the 21st century and the first college founded in Georgia in over a century. In a relatively short time, GGC has grown its student body from a mere 118 students to nearly 12,000. GGC follows a curriculum based on liberal arts and offers 21 academic majors. Outside of the classroom, the school is home to more than 100 clubs and eight athletic teams.
Learn more about Georgia Gwinnett College and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Middle Georgia State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: 5,038/$16,390
Location: Macon, GA
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,485
Middle Georgia State University (MGA) is unique—it’s both one of Georgia’s oldest institutions (founded as a junior college in the 1880s) and also one of the state’s newest universities, earning the status in July of 2015. MGA offers a wide variety of degrees through its six schools:
- School Of Arts & Letters
- School Of Aviation
- School Of Business
- School Of Computing
- School Of Education & Behavioral Sciences
- School Of Health & Natural Sciences
Learn more about Middle Georgia State University and what it takes to get accepted.
9. University of North Georgia
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $5,285/$16,503
Location: Dahlonega, GA
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,242
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the University of North Georgia (UNG), the seventh-largest public university in the state. UNG is one of only six senior military colleges in the nation and is designated by the state legislature as The Military College of Georgia. UNG has a reputation for being one of the most politically conservative colleges in the country.
Learn more about the University of North Georgia and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Savannah State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $5,570/$19,043
Location: Savannah, GA
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,857
Savannah State University (SSU) is notable as the first public historically Black college or university (HBCU) in Georgia and the oldest institution of higher learning in the historic city of Savannah. SSU offers the region’s only four-year Naval ROTC program with tuition-assisted training in science and technology leading to commissioned service in the Navy and the Marine Corps.
The university’s picturesque campus, located just minutes from the ocean, allows it to offer unique programming compared to other schools in the state—SSU has the only marine science undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Georgia based entirely on a coastal campus.
Learn more about Savannah State University and what it takes to get accepted.
Tips for Saving Money on College
Despite the rising cost of college, students can take a few simple steps to help reduce their overall expenses.
Attend an In-State Public School
In-state public schools provide an affordable option to cost-conscious college-bound students. For the 2022-2023 academic year, the cost of attendance (including tuition and fees, room and board, and allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses) was $27,146 at public in-state universities and a whopping $45,708 at private nonprofit colleges. That’s not to say you can’t find value at private nonprofit colleges, as they commonly award merit aid more generously than their public counterparts.
Consider Community College
Attending community college lacks the glamor of going to your dream school, but it can save you huge amounts of money while you fulfill your general education requirements early in your college career.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average local community college student pays a little over $150 per credit hour or $450 per course, compared to $406/$1,218 for in-state students at four-year public universities and $1,469/$4,406 for students at private four-year universities.
Some systems, like the University of California System, even guarantee admission to students transferring from the state’s community colleges, provided they meet certain requirements.
Spend Less Time at College
About one in five college students take longer than four years to earn their bachelor’s degree. The more time you spend in college, the more expensive it becomes and the less time you’re earning money as a member of the workforce.
Have a plan to matriculate, know the classes you need to take, and don’t take (or pay for) classes that don’t contribute to your degree. Accelerated programs, summer sessions, and high school coursework that count for college credit—like AP classes—can also help ensure you minimize your time in college and its expense.
How Much Will You Pay for College?
The sticker price is a poor measurement of the cost of college, as the actual expense varies significantly from student to student. Net price delivers a clearer picture of the actual cost of college. It’s calculated by subtracting scholarship and grant dollars from the sticker price. Almost every college provides a net price calculator; however, our free Financial Aid Calculator provides a centralized solution to understanding the true cost of college.
