Top 10 Cheapest Colleges in Georgia (2025)

Pursuing a college education is a great choice for many people.

Whether you are looking to enter a new field, advance in your current field, or are just starting out with your career, higher education can open the door to many opportunities.

However, not only can picking a college be overwhelming, but a common barrier to entry is the cost of a college education. Luckily, there are options available to make completing a degree more affordable.

In this article, we will cover the cheapest colleges in Georgia. We will also break down some of the things students can take advantage of to make college affordable.

List of Cheap Colleges in Georgia

Here are some of the best affordable colleges in Georgia.

1. North Georgia Technical College

North Georgia Technical College is a public school with several campuses in the North Georgia area. Across its three campuses and online learning, the college offers over 80 programs.

The school offers primarily associate degree programs in a variety of fields, including:

• business
• accounting
• computer science
• criminal justice
• social work

Even students who are pursuing a bachelor's degree could benefit from NGTC's programs. Community colleges and tech schools are often great choices to affordably complete classes before transferring to a university.

The estimated tuition and fees cost of a full-time schedule for an in-state student is $1,932 per semester. For an out-of-state student it is $3,122.

2. Middle Georgia State University

Middle Georgia State University's main campus is located in Macon, GA. In total, the school has five campuses across the region, and it also offers online courses.

This university offers over 65 areas of study with its programs. Some areas of study include Aviation Science and management, marketing, public health management, and more. The school has over 8,000 students.

The estimated total tuition and fees for a 12 credit hour schedule for an in-state student at Middle Georgia State University is $2,207 per semester. For an out-of-state student, it is $7,007.

3. East Georgia State College

East Georgia State College has a total of three campuses and has a focus on helping students affordably complete classes before transferring to another institution.

This college offers associate's degrees and 'transfer pathways' that help students save on college.

Tuition at East Georgia State College may vary depending on the campus, so potential students should consult the tuition and fees information on the college's website. However, in-state tuition on each of their campuses is $95 per credit hour.

4. South Georgia State College

South Georgia State College has three campuses and provides educational opportunities to a service area of 15 counties.

The college offers several bachelor's degrees, as well as associate degrees and transfer pathways that allow students to continue their education at other institutions.

In-state tuition is $95 per credit hour, and for out-of-state students, it is $359.67 per credit hour.

5. Savannah State University

Savannah State University, or SSU, is a historically black university with its main campus located in the city of Savannah, Georgia. It has three campus locations in all.

The university has four colleges of programs for students to choose from, including:

• College of Business Administration
• College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• College of Science & Technology
• College of Education

Undergraduate in-state tuition at SSU is $2,540. For out-of-state students, it is $9,241.

6. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is located in Tifton, Georgia. It offers both associate's and bachelor's degrees.

As its name suggests, this university has a strong focus on agricultural programs and offers many programs to choose from in that field of study.

They also offer several other bachelor's degree programs, including:

• BS in writing and communication
• BS in history and government
• BS in criminal justice
• BS in nursing

Estimated in-state tuition at ABAC is $2,992. The out-of-state estimate is $10,966.

7. University of North Georgia

The University of North Georgia's main campus is located in Dahlonega, GA in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The university has several campuses across the state.

UNG offers over 140 programs of study across all of its campuses and its online offerings. The university offers many degree levels across areas of study like business, education, health, humanities, and more.

Full-time in-state tuition for an undergraduate student at UNG is estimated to be $2,238. For out-of-state students, it is $7,902.

8. Dalton State College

Dalton State College is focused on serving students in the Northwest Georgia area. It is an accredited university that is part of the University System of Georgia.

The college offers associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as minors, in several areas of study, including:

• business
• communication and humanities
• education
• health professions
• science technology engineering math (STEM)
• social sciences and history

On-campus tuition for a full-time in-state student at Dalton State College is $1,281. For out-of-state students, it is $4,734.

9. College of Coastal Georgia

The College of Coastal Georgia is located in Brunswick, Georgia. Having been in operation since the 1960s, it is one of the state's newer higher education institutions.

The college offers many associate's and bachelor's degrees, including online programs. Just a few of their bachelor's programs include degrees in biochemistry, economics, marketing, and many more.

In-state tuition at Coastal is $3,204. Out-of-state tuition is $11,836.

10. Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University has three campuses in total and online programs. Across all campuses and online, GSU offers over 130 degree programs. The school has over 25,000 students

GSU offers associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, alongside minors and certificate programs.

Some of their bachelor's programs include:

• nursing
• psychology
• sociology
• computer science

Undergraduate tuition at GSU for an in-state student enrolled in 12 credit hours is $2,186. For out-of-state students, it is $7,713.

How Much Will a College Degree Cost?

According to Business Insider, the average in-state tuition cost at a four-year college is $10,740 per year. For out-of-state tuition, the average per-year tuition is $27,560.

These averages are based on nationwide data for the 2021 - 2022 academic year.

How to Make College Affordable

There are many ways to help make college more affordable. Check out our tips below!

Attend In-state Schools

This is one of the simplest things that can be done to help make college affordable.

Students attending schools in their state of residency will qualify for in-state tuition rates. These are often much cheaper than out-of-state tuition rates.

Community Colleges and Technical Schools

Community colleges and technical schools usually only offer associate's degrees and certificates. However, this does not mean you should ignore them if you are pursuing a bachelor's degree.

These schools are often much cheaper and more accessible than other schools. Students can attend them to complete some of their courses and then transfer to a university to complete their bachelor's degree.

Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is an absolute must to make college affordable. Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what federal aid they qualify for.

This can include grants, scholarships, and federal student loans, which have lower interest rates than private student loans.

Scholarships

Scholarships should be the primary type of aid a student looks for. They are typically merit-based, meaning they consider things such as academic performance and other achievements. However, there are hundreds of scholarships with different requirements.

Students should look to scholarships because they are money that does not have to be repaid. Work with your school to see which scholarships you may qualify for and apply to as many as possible.

Grants

Like scholarships, grants do not need to be repaid, so they are another excellent source of aid. However, grants are often need-based rather than merit-based like scholarships.

Tuition Assistance

Many employers offer tuition assistance for their employees. This can be extremely helpful for busy, working adults who are pursuing a degree.

Full lists of companies with tuition assistance can be found online, and they include employers like Starbucks and Chick-fil-A.

Do Cheap Colleges in Georgia Offer High-quality Education?

In addition to being affordable, the cheapest colleges in Georgia listed here all provide high-quality education to their students.

In-state Vs. Out-of-state Tuition Rates

In-state tuition rates, meaning the tuition cost for students who are residents of the state, are often much, much more affordable. Out-of-state tuition rates, tuition for non-resident students, are often many times the in-state cost.

This is why it's important to try to attend an in-state college or university if possible. The tuition and fees costs will be much more manageable.

Find an Affordable College in Georgia Today

We have listed some of the cheapest colleges in Georgia that provide the best quality of education, both in person and online.

Now that you know more, including the best ways to make college affordable, you are ready to find the perfect school for you.