2023 Best Online Colleges in Georgia

Atlanta's Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is a competitive, public institution offering ten fully online master's degrees. Almost 70% of Georgia Tech's graduate students participate in distance-only education. They enroll in online master's degrees in STEM fields, such as aerospace engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, mechanical engineering, and medical physics. Three hybrid professional master's degree programs are also available. These online graduate programs offer the same rigor as comparable on-campus programs and generally take full-time students two years to complete.

Georgia Tech uses the Genius learning management system to deliver its online programming to distance learners. It's a large school with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, though graduate-level class sizes are generally small. Georgia Tech is known as one of the nation's top research universities. It is also one of the South's largest industrial and engineering research agencies. As such, it's classified as an R1 high-activity research university by Carnegie.

The University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens is a relatively competitive, public, four-year institution offering a limited number of online degrees, mainly at the master's level and one online bachelor's degree in special education. A low 10% of UGA graduate students participate in distance-only education. Online master's degrees are primarily in education, including majors such as educational psychology, educational administration and policy, science education, and reading education. Online graduate certificates and endorsements are also available. Programs are traditional in length, taking full-time students about two years to complete.

UGA's learning management system is called eLearning Commons (eLC). It's a large university with a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. UGA is known for being military-friendly. The Veterans Administration has approved all its degrees and majors as eligible for educational benefits through the GI Bill.

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public institution and the third-largest university in Georgia. Among undergraduates, the acceptance rate is 83%, with a graduation rate of 48%. KSU has over 180 academic programs — from bachelor’s to doctoral programs.

At KSU, online students complete asynchronous and synchronous coursework on the learning management system (LMS) called D2L Brightspace. With 75 total undergraduate programs to choose from at KSU, it can be hard to narrow it down. They also offer a total of 15 bachelor's programs that are 100% online degrees, including a Bachelor of Sciences in Cybersecurity, Political Science, and Psychology. Online students can access academic advising, career planning and development, the bookstore, student disability services, and an online library.

Thomas University (TU) is a four-year, private, nonprofit institution in southern Georgia near Tallahassee, Florida. It offers online degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels and one at the associate level in law enforcement. Approximately a third of undergrads and graduate students enroll in distance-only education. Popular online degree majors include criminal justice, psychology, nursing (RN to BSN, MSN), social work, education, and business administration. Getting into TU is competitive, as it only accepts 29% of applicants. However, almost half — 44% — of students graduate with their degrees.

Distance learners use Canvas to participate in their classes and receive instruction. TU is a small school with a low 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Classes are small, which allows instructors and students to build working relationships. TU is known for supporting military personnel and their families and partners with the Community College of the Air Force so transfers can seamlessly transfer from the Air Force to TU. It's also an approved General Education Mobile provider for Air Force personnel.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) in Dahlonega is a four-year public institution offering online degrees at all academic levels, primarily the master's level. While only 13% of undergrads participate in online-only education, a little over half of graduate students do. Some examples of online master's degrees at UNG include criminal justice, business administration, nursing education, public administration, and teaching. Students who commit to full-time study can generally finish an online master's degree at UNG in two years. UNG has an 81% acceptance rate and a 39% graduation rate.

UNG uses Brightspace for online coursework and instruction delivery. It has an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Resources for online students include remote access to tutoring, the library, supplemental instruction, accessibility services, and career services. UNG's Online Student Ambassadors (OSA) promote participation in off-campus activities for online students. The organization also facilitates peer-to-peer mentoring.

Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is a public four-year institution about two hours outside of Atlanta offering online master's degrees in the liberal arts. GCSU's graduate programs are popular with students — almost three-quarters of graduate students attend exclusively online. Online degrees are available in majors such as business administration, criminal justice, kinesiology/physical education, management information systems, nursing, and special education.

Online students at GCSU use Brightspace to log into their classes and receive instruction. It has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes that help educators personalize instruction to suit individual student needs. Online graduate certificates are also available for students seeking career advancement but can't commit to a graduate degree. Certificates are available in fields such as education, information technology, and nursing.

Rome's Shorter University (SU) is a private, Baptist institution offering a limited number of online degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels. While only 20% of undergrads enroll solely online, nearly all graduate students do. Majors at each level include business, Christian studies, criminal justice, healthcare management, and sport management. Online degrees at SU are traditional in length, taking four years for bachelor's degrees and two for associate and master's degrees. SU accepts 81% of applicants, and 52% of students graduate with degrees.

SU delivers its online programming via Moodle. It has small classes and a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. As a Baptist institution, SU's curriculum incorporates a Biblical worldview. It also holds firm, conservative beliefs around gender identity, classifying LGBT folks as participating in "nonconforming misconduct." Students are not allowed to have a "lifestyle discordant with birth gender," as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus is a public, four-year institution offering online degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels. Approximately one-third of undergrads and one-half of graduate students participate in distance-only education. Notable majors include business administration, criminal justice, nursing, and computer science. Online endorsements and certificate programs are also available for students seeking to gain skills without earning a degree. GSW has an 86% acceptance rate and a 44% graduation rate.

GSW gives its distance learners access to Brightspace for online coursework and instruction. It has a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1 and small classes. GSW awards over $1 million in scholarships annually to first-year students to help pay for their education. For example, all new, traditional-aged first-year students meeting qualifications are guaranteed $1,000 or $3,000 scholarships through the Georgia Southwestern Promise Scholarship.

Georgia Southern University (GSU), which is a public institution, offers 15 online bachelor's and 34 online master's degrees. Examples include a bachelor's in English literature, a bachelor's in business management, and a master's in health and physical education. Georgia Southern also appears on many of our lists featuring the most affordable college degree programs.

At GSU, students access their online courses through the Folio learning management system. The school has an 89% acceptance rate and a 53% graduation rate. More than 80% of enrollees study full time.

Macon's Mercer University (MU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering online degrees for career readiness at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. About one-fifth of all MU students enroll solely online. Majors of interest include communication, criminal justice, business, healthcare leadership, human services, nursing, psychology, and software engineering. Online students can finish quickly due to eight-week terms and year-round enrollment. MU has a 75% acceptance rate, and 61% of students graduate.

MU delivers its online curriculum via the digital platform Canvas. Classes are small, and the student-to-faculty ratio is low at 13:1. MU is military-friendly, and U.S. Department of Defense employees, including civilians and contractors, may be eligible for a 30% tuition benefit. It also participates in the Extended Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program.

The University of West Georgia (UWG) is a public university. The university accepts 78% of undergraduate applicants and has a 47% graduation rate. UWG offers bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral degrees, endorsements, and certificates. UWG has 87 academic programs prospective students can choose from, including many fully online bachelor's degree options.

UWG facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning through the LMS, CourseDen. Some of UWG’s 100% online degree programs include a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics. Online student support consists of a writing center, academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and tech support.

Georgia State University (GSU) is a public institution in Atlanta that's designated as a predominately Black institution and also serves Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander population. 13% of its large 37,000 student body participates in online-only education. Students can enroll in online degree programs at the associate, bachelor's, and graduate levels. Some of the programs include online bachelor's degrees in nursing, psychology, and social work, and online master's degrees in education, health sciences, nursing, and political science. GSU accepts all applicants, and 57% of students graduate.

GSU uses Brightspace as its learning management system for distance learners. It has a 27:1 student-to-faculty ratio. While GSU charges online associate degree students the same tuition regardless of residency, online bachelor's and graduate degree students pay tuition based on whether they live in or outside the state. GSU also awards scholarships to students seeking financial assistance.

Distance education-only South University Online (SUO), based in Savannah, is a private, for-profit institution offering online degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. This includes online degree programs in nursing and healthcare, such as RN to BSN, family nurse practitioner, allied health sciences, healthcare management, and public health. Other popular areas of study include criminal justice, counseling and psychology, and business and technology. SUO accepts all applicants due to its open admission policy. Its graduation rate is 13%, considerably lower than the 58% average.

SOU's distance learners access Brightspace to participate in classes and complete assignments. It has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, allowing individualized instruction. Its average annual cost of $23,200 is about $5,000 higher than average, and median earnings of $35,200 are about $15,000 less. However, a unique Alumni Scholarship program for students, their friends, and families awards $3,000 for undergraduate degrees, up to $6,000 for master's degrees, and up to $15,000 for doctoral degrees.

Columbus State University (CSU) is a public, four-year institution near the Alabama border offering 39 online degree programs at all academic levels. Overall, 17% of undergrads and 63% of graduate students participate in distance-only education at CSU. Fields of study range from computer science and criminal justice to education and nursing. Notable online bachelor's degrees include RN to BSN, management information systems, and general business. Online master's degrees include educational leadership, nursing, and public administration. CSU has a 79% acceptance rate and a 43% graduation rate.

CSU delivers its online programming via Brightspace. As a midsized institution, it has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes. CSU began offering distance education via phone lines in 1991 and has greatly increased its virtual offerings as technology has grown exponentially over the last 30 years.

Augusta University (AU) is a public institution offering a limited number of online master's degree programs, including a Master of Education in Instruction, a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Science in Information Security Management. In terms of AU's distance learners, 21% of graduate students only participate in distance education. The online master's degree in education includes 21 tracks, such as elementary, middle grades, and special education. It generally takes two years of full-time enrollment to finish online master's degree programs at AU.

AU provides distance learners access to Brightspace to participate in classes and engage with educators and peers. It features small class sizes enabling individualized instruction and a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio. AU aims to offer a "private school experience at a public school price." With this in mind, its MEd program costs just under $20,000 in total tuition and $7,000 for the MPH and information security management programs.

Brenau University is one of the relatively few private, nonprofit colleges in the country catering exclusively to women. Through distance education, the school offers online degrees at various levels: two associate degrees, eight bachelor's degrees, and 13 master's degrees. These include disciplines such as business administration, communications, healthcare administration, and elementary education. Brenau has an 87% acceptance rate and a 46% graduation rate.

Online learners at Brenau use the Canvas learning management system to access their courses. Two-thirds of the student population attend school full time.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a private, nonprofit institution specializing in creative careers. It offers online fine arts degree programs at the bachelor's and master's levels through SCADnow. Notable fields of study include animation, fashion, graphic design, illustration, and interactive design and game development. 6% of undergrads and 19% of graduate students attend SCAD exclusively online. GRADpath@SCAD allows students to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in an accelerated format which may take only four years of study. SCAD accepts 81% of applicants, and 68% of students graduate, which is more than average.

SCAD streams its courses in real-time though students can access them as their schedules allow. It has a 20:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Overall, 80% of new applicants receive merit-based scholarships before first-quarter attendance — amounts vary but may go as high as $15,000. The website Art & Object, popular with creators, ranks SCAD #1 in its list of the top 15 art schools in the U.S. for the last two years.

Valdosta State University is a public institution offering nearly 40 online bachelor's and master's degrees as well as online certificates and endorsements. Among the school's most notable online programs are the master's in teacher education and the master's in school counseling. Valdosta State accepts 89% of applicants, and 40% of students earn their degree.

The school operates a proprietary online learning management system for online courses called BlazeVIEW. Three-quarters of enrollees are full-time students.

Clayton State University is a public institution with an acceptance rate of 69% and a 40% graduation rate. Clayton offers over 100 degrees, majors, and certificates for future students to choose from, including 41 fully online undergraduate programs.

At Clayton, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously via D2L Brightspace, an LMS that provides discussion forums with peers, guidance from instructors, and a place to receive and submit assignments. The university’s online programs range from a Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Online students can also access academic advising, tutoring, coaching, a writer’s studio, and tech support.

Middle Georgia State University (MGA) is a public institution that accepts 99% of applicants and has a 26% graduation rate. MGA offers continuous admissions, allowing students to enroll in online programs at any time. The university awards several associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. What makes MGA unique is that it offers accelerated degree options, including 8-week programs for those who want to graduate with a bachelor's fast.

Most of MGA’s online programs are delivered asynchronously and synchronously on the LMS, D2L Brightspace. MGA’s online programs range from a Bachelor of Science in Psychology to a Bachelor of Arts in English. Importantly, online students at MGA pay the same tuition for courses as residents of Georgia. Distance learners can also access academic advising, counseling, tutoring, and IT support.

At Truett McConnell University — a private, nonprofit, and religious institution — prospective students can pursue 50 online programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, which are all taught from a Christian worldview. However, Truett only offers four fully online bachelor's degrees: (1) a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, (2) a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, (3) a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and (4) a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Truett’s acceptance rate for undergraduates is 97%, but it still maintains a 40% graduation rate.

Truett students complete online coursework via D2L Brightspace. Truett’s online students can access coaching, counseling, career development services, tech support, and tutoring. They also have an online program consultant to help with any questions or concerns students might have about their online degree programs.

At Albany State University, a public university, students can earn associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees online. One of its most popular programs is the master's degree in nursing. Albany State is also highly ranked on many of our lists featuring the most affordable college degree programs.

Distance learners at Albany State access their course materials, submit homework assignments, and participate in class discussions through the school's GaVIEW learning platform. Two-thirds of enrollees study full time.

Toccoa Falls College is a Christian college affiliated with the Christ and Missionary Alliance Church. This private, nonprofit institution offers 12 online degrees, including bachelor's degrees in counseling psychology, business administration, and ministry leadership.

Just over half of Toccoa Falls enrollees are part-time students. The school accepts 68% of applicants and graduates 46% of its students.

Lithonia's Luther Rice College & Seminary (LRCS) is a private, Baptist-faith-based institution offering online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Essentially all of its roughly 600 students enroll in online-only education. Its programming is in religious studies such as apologetics, Biblical counseling, pastoral ministry, and theology. Students can choose from standard 15-week terms, 11-week terms, or 8-week terms based on scheduling needs. LCRS is relatively competitive, accepting just under half of applicants. 50% of students graduate with degrees.

LRCS delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. As a small school, it has small classes, and its student-to-faculty ratio is low at 9:1. This enables instructors to individualize instruction based on student needs and for students to build rapport and community. LRCS is incredibly affordable, with an average annual cost of $1,400 compared to almost $19,000 for other schools.

Point University (PU) in West Point is a private, Christ Churches and Churches of Christ-faith-based four-year institution. It offers online degrees in liberal arts at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels. All graduate students and one-fifth of undergrads attend solely online. Notable online undergraduate degrees include business administration, criminal justice, information systems security, psychology, and social work. Online master's degrees include business administration and transformative ministry. Full-time distance learners generally complete online bachelor's programs in four years and master's in two. Relatively competitive, PU accepts just 47% of applicants. It has a 44% graduation rate.

Online students at PU use Canvas to access online coursework and instruction. PU is a small school with small classes and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. PU integrates faith into its programming as a faith-based school so graduates can take it into the workplace.