Top 10 Private Colleges in Georgia

Direct Answer

The Best Overall private college in Georgia is Emory University, an elite Atlanta research university that admits roughly 11% of applicants and posts a 6-year graduation rate near 90% while ranking among the top 25 national universities. The Best Value pick is Berry College in Rome, where generous merit aid frequently cuts the sticker price by half or more, the graduation rate sits near 70%, and a guaranteed work program lets students offset costs while building résumés.

This list is built for Georgia families and students weighing academic strength, real outcomes, and net cost across the state's private colleges — from elite research universities to historically Black colleges, liberal-arts gems, and specialized programs. Every pick below uses real, publicly reported data from federal, institutional, and ranking sources.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each college against the priorities Georgia families and students consistently say they care about. We leaned on published figures from U.S. News, Niche, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the College Board, and each school's own Common Data Set and outcomes reporting. The weighting:

• Academic performance and selectivity — 25%
• College/post-grad outcomes — 20%
• Value and cost — 15%
• Teachers and resources — 15%
• Environment and safety — 15%
• Programs and fit — 10%

A college with a famous name but weak on-time graduation, or a low sticker price that leaves graduates underemployed, drops fast. The winners balance all six.

1. Emory University 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Type: Private (national research university) | Tuition: ~$60,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: High-achieving students who want an elite research university

Emory University in Atlanta is Georgia's premier private research institution, enrolling about 15,000 students including roughly 7,000 undergraduates. Admissions are highly selective at about an 11% acceptance rate, with the middle-50% SAT near 1450–1540. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 90%, and first-year retention exceeds 95%.

Emory is nationally ranked for business (Goizueta), nursing, pre-med, public health, and the liberal arts, and it anchors a major academic medical center alongside the CDC and the Carter Center. Outcomes are excellent, with strong placement into top graduate programs, medicine, consulting, and finance.

Need-based aid is generous, often making the net price far lower than sticker.

Pros:

• Top-25 national university with elite research ties
• ~90% graduation rate and 95%+ retention
• Strong pre-med, nursing, and business pipelines
• Generous need-based aid lowers net cost

Cons:

• Highly selective — admission is far from guaranteed
• High sticker price before aid

Verdict: Emory is the best overall private in Georgia — elite academics, research, and outcomes with deep financial aid.

2. Mercer University

Type: Private (comprehensive research) | Tuition: ~$42,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting strong professional programs at a mid-size university

Mercer University, based in Macon with campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, enrolls about 9,000 students and combines a traditional liberal-arts core with strong engineering, business, pharmacy, nursing, law, and medicine. The acceptance rate runs near 70%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1180–1370.

The 6-year graduation rate sits near 67%, and Mercer is notable for generous merit aid that lowers net cost significantly. Its School of Medicine focuses on serving rural and underserved Georgia communities, and engineering and health graduates post strong placement. Mercer pairs professional depth with a personal scale.

Pros:

• Strong engineering, pharmacy, and medical programs
• Generous merit aid reduces net price
• Personal scale with research and professional depth
• Medical school focused on Georgia communities

Cons:

• Less national name recognition than Emory
• Outcomes vary by program

Verdict: A professional-program standout — excellent for engineering, health, and pre-professional students seeking value.

3. Spelman College

Type: Private (HBCU, women's liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$31,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Women seeking a top historically Black liberal-arts college

Spelman College in Atlanta is the nation's top-ranked historically Black college (HBCU) and a leading women's liberal-arts institution, enrolling about 2,600 students. The acceptance rate runs near 40%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1100–1270. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 76%, among the highest of any HBCU, and Spelman is a national leader in sending Black women on to STEM doctorates, medical school, and graduate programs.

Strong programs in the sciences, psychology, economics, and the arts combine with a powerful sisterhood and alumnae network. Outcomes and graduate-school placement are exceptional for the price.

Pros:

• #1-ranked HBCU with ~76% graduation rate
• National leader in Black women earning STEM PhDs
• Powerful alumnae network and sisterhood
• Strong graduate and professional-school placement

Cons:

• Women-only admission limits the applicant pool
• Small size means fewer large-research resources

Verdict: The top HBCU in the country — an outstanding choice for women seeking strong outcomes and community.

4. Morehouse College

Type: Private (HBCU, men's liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$31,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Men seeking a historic HBCU with strong leadership outcomes

Morehouse College in Atlanta is the nation's only historically Black, all-male liberal-arts college, enrolling about 2,200 students. The acceptance rate runs near 65%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1010–1200. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 55%, and Morehouse has produced a remarkable share of Black male leaders, including Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Strong programs in business, political science, the sciences, and pre-med feed graduates into law, medicine, and corporate leadership. The "Morehouse Mystique," tight brotherhood, and deep alumni network give graduates a distinctive professional advantage.

Pros:

• Storied HBCU producing Black male leaders
• Strong business, political science, and pre-med tracks
• Powerful alumni network and brotherhood
• Atlanta location with corporate and graduate ties

Cons:

• Graduation rate trails the top liberal-arts peers
• Men-only admission limits the applicant pool

Verdict: A historic leadership incubator — ideal for men seeking community, mentorship, and a strong network.

5. Agnes Scott College

Type: Private (women's liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$48,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Women seeking a rigorous, global liberal-arts experience

Agnes Scott College in Decatur, just outside Atlanta, is a top women's liberal-arts college enrolling about 1,000 students. The acceptance rate runs near 65%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1140–1340. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 67%, and Agnes Scott's distinctive SUMMIT program guarantees every student global learning and leadership development plus a faculty and staff mentoring team.

Strong programs in the sciences, public health, business management, and the humanities pair with small classes and a student-faculty ratio near 10:1. Generous merit aid lowers the net price for strong applicants.

Pros:

• SUMMIT program guarantees global learning for all
• Small classes with a ~10:1 student-faculty ratio
• Strong sciences, public health, and humanities
• Generous merit aid reduces net cost

Cons:

• Very small enrollment limits program breadth
• Women-only admission narrows the pool

Verdict: A distinctive women's liberal-arts pick — strong mentoring and global focus in a small, supportive setting.

6. Oglethorpe University

Type: Private (liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$42,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a small Atlanta liberal-arts college with merit aid

Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven, in metro Atlanta, is a small private liberal-arts college enrolling about 1,400 students. The acceptance rate runs near 85%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1080–1290. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 55%, and Oglethorpe's signature Petrel Scholarships and the tuition-matching Flagship 50 program tie merit aid to public-university rates in a student's home state, lowering net cost substantially.

Strong programs in business, psychology, biology, and communications pair with small classes, an Atlanta location, and a hands-on A_LAB experiential-learning requirement that connects students to internships.

Pros:

• Flagship 50 program matches home-state tuition rates
• Small classes in a convenient Atlanta location
• Experiential A_LAB internship requirement
• Solid business, psychology, and biology programs

Cons:

• Modest graduation rate compared with state leaders
• Small size limits major and resource breadth

Verdict: A value-driven small liberal-arts pick — strongest for students drawn by Atlanta access and aggressive merit aid.

7. Berry College 💎 BEST VALUE

Type: Private (liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$42,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Value-focused students who want strong outcomes and work experience

Berry College in Rome is the value champion of Georgia privates, enrolling about 2,200 students on one of the largest college campuses in the world. The acceptance rate runs near 60%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1130–1330. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 70%, strong for a private of its size, and generous merit aid frequently cuts the sticker price by half or more.

Berry's hallmark is a guaranteed student-work program that lets nearly every student hold a paid on-campus job, gaining real experience while offsetting costs. Strong programs in business, animal science, education, and the sciences pair with small classes and a scenic setting.

Pros:

• Guaranteed paid student-work program offsets cost
• Generous merit aid often halves the sticker price
• ~70% graduation rate with strong outcomes
• Solid business, animal science, and education programs

Cons:

• Rural Rome location is less urban than Atlanta peers
• Smaller national name recognition

Verdict: The best value in Georgia — strong outcomes, deep merit aid, and paid work experience that lowers real cost.

8. Savannah College of Art and Design

Type: Private (art and design) | Tuition: ~$41,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Students pursuing art, design, film, and creative careers

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is one of the largest and most respected art-and-design universities in the country, with campuses in Savannah and Atlanta and roughly 15,000 students. The acceptance rate runs near 80%, reflecting a portfolio-and-fit admissions model rather than test cutoffs.

SCAD is nationally known for animation, graphic design, fashion, film and television, interior design, and game design, with strong industry ties and high placement reporting — the university cites roughly 99% of graduates employed or pursuing further study within ten months.

State-of-the-industry facilities and a deep recruiting network with major studios and brands make it a top creative-career launchpad.

Pros:

• Top-tier animation, design, film, and fashion programs
• ~99% of graduates employed or in further study (reported)
• Strong industry partnerships and recruiting
• Two Georgia campuses plus extensive facilities

Cons:

• High cost with limited need-based aid
• Narrow creative focus — not for general majors

Verdict: The creative-career pick — outstanding for art, design, and film students who want industry connections.

9. Covenant College

Type: Private (Christian liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$40,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Students seeking a faith-based liberal-arts education

Covenant College sits atop Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia and enrolls about 1,000 students as a Christian liberal-arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America. The acceptance rate runs near 90%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1100–1320.

The 6-year graduation rate sits near 70%, strong for its size, and Covenant integrates faith with academics across education, business, biology, English, and the humanities. Small classes, a student-faculty ratio near 12:1, and a tight residential community define the experience.

Generous institutional aid lowers net cost for committed students seeking a Christ-centered education.

Pros:

• ~70% graduation rate at a small Christian college
• Faith integrated across a strong liberal-arts core
• Small classes and a close residential community
• Generous institutional aid lowers net cost

Cons:

• Faith-based focus is a specific fit, not for everyone
• Remote mountain location and small program range

Verdict: A strong faith-based liberal-arts pick — ideal for students seeking a Christ-centered, community-focused college.

10. LaGrange College

Type: Private (Methodist liberal arts) | Tuition: ~$33,000/yr (before aid) | Best for: Students wanting a small, affordable liberal-arts college with strong support

LaGrange College in LaGrange is Georgia's oldest private college, founded in 1831, and enrolls about 1,000 students as a Methodist-affiliated liberal-arts institution. The acceptance rate runs near 60%, and the middle-50% SAT lands around 1010–1210. The 6-year graduation rate sits near 50%, and LaGrange emphasizes small classes, a student-faculty ratio near 11:1, and personal mentoring.

Strong programs in nursing, education, business, and the arts pair with generous merit aid that lowers net cost well below sticker. Its small, supportive setting and lower price point make it accessible for students who want individual attention.

Pros:

• Georgia's oldest private college with personal mentoring
• Small classes and an ~11:1 student-faculty ratio
• Generous merit aid lowers net cost
• Solid nursing, education, and arts programs

Cons:

• Graduation rate trails the state's top privates
• Small size limits program and resource breadth

Verdict: A supportive, affordable small-college pick — strongest for students who want individual attention and lower cost.

Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Choosing a Private College

• Net price, not sticker — Private colleges discount heavily; compare actual aid offers, like Berry's work program, Mercer's merit aid, or Oglethorpe's Flagship 50, rather than published tuition.
• Graduation and retention rates — A college where most students finish in six years signals real support; check published NCES figures, not glossy brochures.
• Real career and graduate-school outcomes — Look at employment-or-further-study rates and graduate-placement records, like Spelman's STEM-PhD pipeline or SCAD's reported placement.
• Program fit over name — A strong match like SCAD design, Mercer engineering, or Spelman pre-med can matter far more than overall prestige.
• Community and mission fit — Decide whether an HBCU, women's, men's, or faith-based community like Spelman, Morehouse, or Covenant aligns with your goals.
• Class size and mentoring — Small student-faculty ratios at Agnes Scott, Covenant, and LaGrange often mean more direct faculty access than large lectures.

What matters less than marketing implies: campus amenities, climbing walls, and ranking-drop drama. Net cost, graduation rates, and real outcomes by program affect your future far more than a brochure's glossy photos.

FAQ

Which private college in Georgia is the best overall? Emory University earns the top spot for its top-25 national ranking, ~90% graduation rate, elite research and medical ties, and generous need-based aid.

What is the best value private college in Georgia? Berry College is the value leader — generous merit aid often halves the sticker price, a ~70% graduation rate, and a guaranteed paid student-work program that offsets cost.

Which Georgia private college is the best HBCU? Spelman College is the nation's #1-ranked HBCU, with a ~76% graduation rate and a national-leading record of sending Black women on to STEM doctorates and graduate programs.

Which private colleges in Georgia are women's or men's colleges? Spelman College and Agnes Scott College are women's colleges, while Morehouse College is the nation's only historically Black, all-male liberal-arts college.

Which Georgia private college is best for art and design? Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) leads for creative careers, with top programs in animation, design, film, and fashion plus strong reported graduate placement.

How much do private colleges in Georgia cost? Sticker tuition ranges from about $31,000/yr at Spelman and Morehouse to roughly $60,000/yr at Emory, but merit and need-based aid frequently lower the net price substantially.

Bottom Line

For Georgia students, Emory University is our Best Overall private college — a top-25 national university with a ~90% graduation rate, elite research, and generous aid. Berry College, with deep merit aid that often halves the price and a guaranteed paid work program, is our Best Value.

If your priorities lean toward strong professional programs, an HBCU community, a women's or men's college, or a creative-career path, use the decision tree above to route yourself to Mercer, Spelman, Morehouse, or SCAD instead. Choose on net price, graduation rates, and real outcomes by program — not name alone — and you will find the right fit.

Sources

• U.S. News — Best Colleges in Georgia rankings
• Niche — Best Private Colleges in Georgia
• NCES College Navigator — Georgia institutions
• College Board — Big Future college search
• Emory University — admissions and Common Data Set
• Spelman College — admissions and outcomes
• Mercer University — admissions and outcomes
• Berry College — cost, aid, and outcomes
• Savannah College of Art and Design — outcomes reporting
• GreatSchools and state education data portals

*Private colleges in Georgia review — best private colleges Georgia, rankings, ratings, review 2027, and a review of the top private college picks for families and students.*