Suburban Colleges in Georgia
| # | School | Setting | Enrollment | Net Price | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Emory University-Oxford College
Oxford, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 973 | $30,622 | 94.7% |
| 2 |
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 39,503 | $16,972 | 48.1% |
| 3 |
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta
Duluth, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 779 | $24,592 | 52.0% |
| 4 |
Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service
Decatur, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 451 | $21,563 | 61.8% |
| 5 |
Clayton State University
Morrow, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 4,390 | $10,145 | 35.4% |
| 6 |
Fortis College-Smyrna
Smyrna, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 488 | $24,705 | 54.1% |
| 7 |
Chattahoochee Technical College
Marietta, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 7,555 | $4,546 | 38.9% |
| 8 |
Berry College
Mount Berry, Georgia
|
Suburb-Small | 2,213 | $21,568 | 73.9% |
| 9 |
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 7,395 | $12,599 | 27.0% |
| 10 |
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Clarkston, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 2,069 | $7,210 | 34.9% |
| 11 |
DeVry University-Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 472 | $30,243 | 36.4% |
| 12 |
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 898 | $24,224 | 70.5% |
| 13 |
Georgia Highlands College
Rome, Georgia
|
Suburb-Small | 4,441 | $6,588 | 20.8% |
| 14 |
Gwinnett College-Lilburn
Lilburn, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 132 | $27,010 | 40.9% |
| 15 |
Interactive College of Technology-Morrow
Morrow, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 113 | $14,970 | 42.9% |
| 16 |
Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 858 | $24,832 | 71.9% |
| 17 |
Interactive College of Technology-Chamblee
Chamblee, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 529 | $13,775 | 39.1% |
| 18 |
Strayer University-Georgia
Chamblee, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 4,878 | $18,224 | 23.1% |
| 19 |
Oglethorpe University
Atlanta, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 1,429 | $21,735 | 53.9% |
| 20 |
Reformed University
Lawrenceville, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 287 | 50.0% | |
| 21 |
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 11,156 | $11,696 | 19.8% |
| 22 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Marietta
Marietta, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 438 | $29,503 | 53.2% |
| 23 |
Luther Rice College & Seminary
Lithonia, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 195 | $3,935 | |
| 24 |
Atlanta Institute of Music and Media
Duluth, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large | 264 | $32,699 | 26.2% |
| 25 |
College of Athens
Watkinsville, Georgia
|
Suburb-Midsize | 70 | ||
| 26 |
Columbia Theological Seminary
Decatur, Georgia
|
Suburb-Large |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Emory University-Oxford College different from other Georgia suburban schools?
Oxford College operates as Emory's two-year residential campus with a 94.7% graduation rate and highly selective 15% acceptance rate. Students complete their first two years here before transitioning to Emory's Atlanta campus. The $80,137 median earnings reflect this pathway to Emory's main university, making it unique among Georgia's suburban options.
How does Georgia's HOPE Scholarship affect college costs in suburban areas?
HOPE Scholarship covers full tuition at public colleges for students with 3.0+ GPAs, dramatically reducing costs at schools like Chattahoochee Technical College and Georgia Highlands College. This means the listed net prices primarily reflect out-of-state students and fees beyond tuition, making Georgia public colleges extremely affordable for qualifying residents.
Is Kennesaw State University's size typical for suburban Georgia colleges?
Kennesaw State's 39,503 enrollment makes it unusually large for a suburban campus. Most suburban Georgia colleges enroll under 8,000 students, with many specialized schools like Aviation Institute of Maintenance serving fewer than 800. Kennesaw's size reflects its full university status and proximity to Atlanta's job market.
What career outcomes do technical colleges provide in suburban Georgia?
Technical colleges show solid earning potential despite lower graduation rates. Chattahoochee Technical College graduates earn $37,138 with a 38.9% completion rate, while Gwinnett Technical College offers $45,025 median earnings. These schools connect directly to Atlanta's film industry, logistics networks, and airport operations, providing practical career pathways.
Does Berry College offer good value compared to other private options?
Berry College delivers strong outcomes with a 73.9% graduation rate and $53,800 median earnings at $21,568 net cost. This significantly outperforms other private suburban options like Agnes Scott College, which costs $24,224 for similar graduation rates. Berry's rural Mount Berry location keeps costs manageable while maintaining quality.
Where do specialized programs like funeral service education fit in Georgia's market?
Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in Decatur serves a specific professional need with 61.8% graduation rates and $42,636 earnings. With only 451 students, it represents Georgia's niche professional programs that train for stable, location-specific careers. These specialized schools often show higher completion rates than general programs.
See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.