Paying for college · Georgia
What college really costs in Georgia
Average yearly net price after grants at 43 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Georgia state grants
- HOPE Scholarship: Covers most tuition at a Georgia public university, paid per credit hour (up to 15 per term)
- Zell Miller Scholarship: Full tuition at a Georgia public university
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$7.25/hour minimum wage
the federal minimum wage applies to most jobs in Georgia.
All four-year colleges in Georgia
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton State CollegeDalton · public | $2,353 | $1,524 | 29% | $13,419 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton · public | $6,874 | $5,482 | 40% | $18,363 |
| Savannah State UniversitySavannah · public | $7,542 | $6,652 | 35% | $26,000 |
| Gordon State CollegeBarnesville · public | $8,779 | $7,927 | 22% | $17,008 |
| Clayton State UniversityMorrow · public | $8,868 | $7,686 | 38% | $25,250 |
| Georgia Gwinnett CollegeLawrenceville · public | $10,080 | $9,002 | 22% | $19,000 |
| Georgia Southwestern State UniversityAmericus · public | $10,170 | $9,265 | 33% | $18,250 |
| Valdosta State UniversityValdosta · public | $10,804 | $9,482 | 45% | $23,000 |
| Middle Georgia State UniversityMacon · public | $11,448 | $10,343 | 26% | $18,000 |
| University of West GeorgiaCarrollton · public | $11,787 | $10,004 | 44% | $20,750 |
| Augusta UniversityAugusta · public | $12,017 | $9,875 | 48% | $20,000 |
| Georgia TechAtlanta · public | $12,028 | $7,687 | 94% | $19,500 |
| Wesleyan CollegeMacon · private | $12,113 | $10,962 | 43% | $24,738 |
| Georgia State UniversityAtlanta · public | $12,365 | $10,899 | 51% | $21,500 |
| Fort Valley State UniversityFort Valley · public | $12,421 | $11,287 | 39% | $26,738 |
| Young Harris CollegeYoung Harris · private | $12,549 | $11,662 | 38% | $27,000 |
| University of GeorgiaAthens · public | $13,636 | $8,995 | 89% | $15,623 |
| University of North GeorgiaDahlonega · public | $14,185 | $12,109 | 38% | $16,495 |
| Albany State UniversityAlbany · public | $14,511 | $13,800 | 30% | $21,750 |
| Columbus State UniversityColumbus · public | $15,711 | $14,389 | 42% | $23,968 |
| Thomas UniversityThomasville · private | $16,111 | $13,330 | 28% | $21,000 |
| Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw · public | $16,325 | $14,182 | 50% | $21,500 |
| Emory UniversityAtlanta · private | $16,754 | $10,593 | 91% | $12,000 |
| Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro · public | $16,785 | $14,331 | 54% | $20,568 |
| LaGrange CollegeLagrange · private | $17,700 | $17,246 | 35% | $26,000 |
| Brenau UniversityGainesville · private | $17,968 | $17,441 | 34% | $28,000 |
| Shorter UniversityRome · private | $18,008 | $15,691 | 45% | $25,000 |
| Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta · private | $20,156 | $17,121 | 55% | $23,000 |
| Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville · public | $20,803 | $15,907 | 60% | $21,500 |
| Toccoa Falls CollegeToccoa Falls · private | $21,229 | $19,847 | 43% | $22,601 |
| Berry CollegeMount Berry · private | $21,964 | $18,307 | 71% | $20,500 |
| Piedmont UniversityDemorest · private | $22,075 | $18,299 | 52% | $25,000 |
| Truett McConnell UniversityCleveland · private | $23,013 | $19,727 | 56% | $23,250 |
| Covenant CollegeLookout Mountain · private | $23,147 | $21,779 | 69% | $22,944 |
| Agnes Scott CollegeDecatur · private | $24,648 | $22,740 | 68% | $25,000 |
| Mercer UniversityMacon · private | $24,778 | $18,845 | 72% | $24,427 |
| Point UniversityWest Point · private | $24,955 | $25,786 | 60% | $26,000 |
| Morris Brown CollegeAtlanta · private | $25,756 | $25,440 | — | $15,750 |
| Life UniversityMarietta · private | $29,594 | $31,443 | 43% | $18,669 |
| Reinhardt UniversityWaleska · private | $29,893 | $25,611 | 38% | $23,250 |
| Morehouse CollegeAtlanta · private | $38,655 | $32,102 | 57% | $24,500 |
| Spelman CollegeAtlanta · private | $46,089 | $41,125 | 77% | $20,500 |
| Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah · private | $50,165 | $46,639 | 70% | $22,167 |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Georgia use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.