About Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College trains skilled workers for South Georgia's growing industries. The college serves 2,762 students in a rural-fringe setting near Valdosta, focusing on hands-on technical and vocational programs. Students learn trades like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics that directly feed into regional job markets. The curriculum emphasizes practical skills over theory, with programs designed around employer needs.
Students from families earning under $30,000 pay just $365 after financial aid, making this one of the most affordable paths to career training in Georgia. Even middle-income families with earnings up to $75,000 typically pay under $5,000 annually. Graduates earn a median of $30,864 ten years after completing their programs. While that salary might seem modest, it represents solid earning potential for two-year technical training, especially given the extremely low debt burden most students carry.
The student body reflects South Georgia's demographics, with 43% Black students and 42% White students. Women make up 69% of enrollment, drawn largely to the college's strong healthcare programs. Nearly all students come from in-state, creating a tight-knit community atmosphere. The 89% employment rate shows that local employers actively recruit Wiregrass graduates.
Students from families earning under $30,000 pay just $365 after financial aid, making this one of the most affordable paths to career training in Georgia. Even middle-income families with earnings up to $75,000 typically pay under $5,000 annually. Graduates earn a median of $30,864 ten years after completing their programs. While that salary might seem modest, it represents solid earning potential for two-year technical training, especially given the extremely low debt burden most students carry.
The student body reflects South Georgia's demographics, with 43% Black students and 42% White students. Women make up 69% of enrollment, drawn largely to the college's strong healthcare programs. Nearly all students come from in-state, creating a tight-knit community atmosphere. The 89% employment rate shows that local employers actively recruit Wiregrass graduates.
Academics & Faculty
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College focuses on career-ready training programs that prepare students for immediate employment in South Georgia's workforce. The school offers technical and vocational programs in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive technology. With a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, students receive hands-on instruction in small classes. However, only 43.80% of students complete their programs within six years, reflecting the challenges many working adults face balancing education with other responsibilities. The college's strength lies in job placement rather than traditional academics. An impressive 89.1% employment rate shows graduates find work quickly. Most students earn certificates or associate degrees designed for specific trades and technical careers.
Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69.6%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 43.8%
- Median Earnings (10 years)
- $30,864
Popular Programs by Earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $36,312 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $35,600 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $29,995 |
| Ground Transportation. | Certificate | $29,995 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Certificate | $24,615 |
| Precision Metal Working. | Certificate | $24,035 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $22,806 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $21,781 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services. | Certificate | $17,768 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $17,707 |
Campus Life
Wiregrass serves 2,762 students on a practical campus in Valdosta, about 120 miles south of Atlanta. The setting feels more like a modern training facility than a traditional college. Students spend their days in hands-on labs and workshops rather than lecture halls. With 69% women and a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, classes stay focused on real-world skills.
South Georgia's humid subtropical climate means you'll need sunscreen more than winter coats. Summers hit the 90s with heavy humidity, while winters rarely drop below freezing. Most students commute from the surrounding rural counties since this is primarily a commuter school without traditional campus housing. The 97% in-state enrollment creates a tight-knit community where everyone seems to know someone from high school.
Weekends often revolve around work schedules rather than campus events. Many students already have jobs or internships related to their technical programs. The 89% employment rate reflects the school's direct pipeline to regional industries. Social life tends to happen off-campus in Valdosta's restaurants and outdoor spaces rather than in dorms or student centers.
South Georgia's humid subtropical climate means you'll need sunscreen more than winter coats. Summers hit the 90s with heavy humidity, while winters rarely drop below freezing. Most students commute from the surrounding rural counties since this is primarily a commuter school without traditional campus housing. The 97% in-state enrollment creates a tight-knit community where everyone seems to know someone from high school.
Weekends often revolve around work schedules rather than campus events. Many students already have jobs or internships related to their technical programs. The 89% employment rate reflects the school's direct pipeline to regional industries. Social life tends to happen off-campus in Valdosta's restaurants and outdoor spaces rather than in dorms or student centers.
- Setting
- Rural-Fringe
- Calendar System
- Semester
- Founded
- 2010
Campus Safety (2023)
No reported Clery Act crimes in 2023.
Climate & Weather
- January Avg
- 39°–62°F
- July Avg
- 71°–91°F
- Annual Precipitation
- 54.6"
- Annual Snowfall
- 0.0"
Student Demographics
Wiregrass draws overwhelmingly from Georgia, with 97% of students coming from in-state. This reflects the college's role as a regional workforce pipeline for South Georgia's technical industries. Women make up about 70% of enrollment, largely due to popular programs in healthcare fields like nursing and medical assisting. The student body is split almost evenly between Black and white students, mirroring the demographics of rural South Georgia. Nearly 40% receive Pell Grants, showing the college serves working-class families seeking practical career training rather than traditional four-year degrees.
- Men
- 30.9%
- Women
- 69.1%
- White
- 42.2%
- Black
- 43.2%
- Hispanic
- 10.1%
- Asian
- 0.7%
- In-State Students
- 97.3%
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 39.4%
Location
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College sits in Valdosta, Georgia, roughly 140 miles south of Atlanta in the heart of South Georgia's agricultural region. The campus serves a rural-fringe community where 97.33% of students come from in-state. Valdosta combines small-town charm with college energy, anchored by Valdosta State University and surrounded by farms, forests, and historic downtown districts. The area offers affordable living costs that help keep the average net price at just $1,228 for students. South Georgia's economy relies heavily on agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics, creating demand for the technical skills this college provides. Students considering colleges in Georgia may also compare Wiregrass Georgia Technical College with similar schools in the region.
- Address
- Valdosta, Georgia 31602-0929
After College
Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education
- Median Earnings (10 years)
- $30,864
- Median Earnings (5 years)
- $34,712
- Mean Earnings (6 years after entry)
- $22,400
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 23.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Wiregrass Georgia Technical College cost after financial aid?
The average net price is just $1,228 for all students. Students from families earning under $30,000 pay only $365 after aid, making this one of the most affordable options in Georgia for technical training.
What is the student body like at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College?
The college serves 2,762 students with women making up 69% of enrollment. The student body is nearly evenly split between white (42%) and Black (43%) students, with 97% coming from within Georgia to pursue hands-on technical training.
What programs is Wiregrass Georgia Technical College known for?
The college specializes in technical and vocational training programs serving South Georgia's workforce needs. With a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, students get personalized attention in programs designed to prepare them for in-demand technical careers.
How successful are graduates from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College?
The employment rate reaches 89.1% for graduates, reflecting strong job market demand for technical skills. Median earnings hit $37,483 just one year after graduation, though the 43.8% six-year graduation rate shows that completing programs can be challenging for some students.
Where is Wiregrass Georgia Technical College located?
The college sits in Valdosta, Georgia, in a rural-fringe setting that serves the broader South Georgia region. Founded in 2010, it operates on a semester calendar system and draws nearly all its students from within state borders.
Does Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offer much financial aid?
About 39.4% of students receive financial aid, with the same percentage qualifying for Pell Grants. , federal loan usage is 0%, meaning students typically graduate debt-free from their technical programs.
