Top Universities in Georgia

Georgia has a strong mix of flagship public universities, private research institutions, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)
Georgia Tech is one of the top engineering and technical universities in the world — consistently ranked top 5 nationally in engineering. Its programs in aerospace, electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering feed directly into Atlanta's major aerospace (Lockheed Martin, Delta, Gulfstream) and technology sectors. The graduate programs in industrial engineering and operations research are #1 in the US. Tech's business school (Scheller) and liberal arts programs have grown significantly in recent decades.

University of Georgia (Athens)
The flagship liberal arts and research university of the University System of Georgia and the oldest public university chartered in the US (1785). UGA is strong in law, veterinary medicine, journalism, and agricultural sciences. Athens itself is one of the finest college towns in the South — the music scene that produced REM and B-52s remains vibrant.

Emory University (Atlanta)
A major private research university with particular strength in medicine (Emory is one of the CDC's primary academic partners), public health, law, and theology. Emory's Rollins School of Public Health and Goizueta Business School are highly ranked. The Carlos Museum of Archaeology is one of the best university museums in the South.

Morehouse College and Spelman College (Atlanta)
Morehouse (men's HBCU) and Spelman (women's HBCU) are the most academically selective HBCUs in the US. Morehouse's alumni include Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, and Herman Cain. Spelman consistently ranks as the top HBCU in national rankings. Together with Clark Atlanta and Morehouse School of Medicine, they form the Atlanta University Center Consortium.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
One of the largest art and design universities in the US, SCAD has transformed downtown Savannah by converting historic buildings into academic facilities. SCAD's programs in fashion, animation, film, and architecture have national reputations.