Colleges in Georgia: Universities, Trade and Technical Schools

Georgia Colleges Summary

Georgia has a long tradition of providing higher education to those in The Peach State. The University of Georgia, chartered in 1785, was the nation's first public university. Today, there are more than 50 colleges and universities in Georgia's community college and university systems, as well as several hundred private and independent colleges.

The Technical College System of Georgia oversees 22 public technical schools. The system offers more than 600 educational programs, many of which can be completed online.

The University System of Georgia consists of 25 institutions: four research institutions, four comprehensive universities, eight state colleges, and nine state universities.

The Georgia Independent College Association, meanwhile, represents 23 four-year and two two-year nonprofit member colleges and universities.

Higher Education Initiatives in Georgia

The state's Complete College Georgia program, launched in 2011, focuses on:

• Increasing the number of high school graduates
• Improving or creating new ways for college students to complete their degree programs
• Expanding access to Georgia colleges for underserved students such as minorities, adults, first-generation students, the disabled, low-income residents, and the military

Online Education in Georgia

Distance learners in the University System of Georgia can access online programs through Georgia ONmyLINE. USG also has eCore, a system designed to help returning and traditional students complete many undergraduate requirements online. Georgia Virtual Technical Connection is the Technical College System of Georgia's portal for distance education.

Georgia also is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, which provides access to online programs provided by colleges and universities based outside of Georgia.

For more information about public Georgia colleges, visit the University System of Georgia or contact the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.

Sources:

• About Georgia State University, https://www.gsu.edu/about/
• Georgia Higher Education Data Book, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, https://gbpi.org/2017/georgia-higher-education-data-book/
• Georgia Independent College Association, http://www.georgiacolleges.org/
• Technical College System of Georgia, https://tcsg.edu/
• UGA by the Numbers, University of Georgia, http://www.uga.edu/profile/facts/