Online Colleges in Georgia

By 2020, more than 65% of jobs in Georgia will require some form of postsecondary education. Attending online colleges in Georgia accredited regionally or nationally helps graduates compete on the job market and earn higher salaries. Students who select an in-state school save on tuition costs, build valuable connections, and benefit from name recognition. Our list of online colleges in Georgia highlights the best, most affordable institutions. We also explore the job outlook for Georgia graduates and scholarship opportunities for online students.

Featured Online Schools

Higher Learning Initiatives in Georgia

The Center for 21st Century Universities at the Georgia Institute of Technology

Also known as C21U, the Center for 21st Century Universities is a "living laboratory" for new educational technology. The center's goal is to conduct classroom experiments using new technology, online learning strategies, social networking, and other tools. The center also seeks to collaborate with other educators to identify the best strategies, platforms, and techniques for the future of education and online schools in Georgia. In further testament to its commitment to revolutionary educational methods, C21U has paired up with MOOC provider Coursera to provide free, high-quality classes to the public.

Georgia's Online Learning Bill (SB 289)

In 2012, Georgia passed the Online Learning Bill. The initiative focuses on promoting virtual and digital learning to prepare high school students for an increasingly technological world. The bill requires all end-of-year core assessments to be completed online by the 2014-2015 school year. More immediately, students who enter ninth grade during the 2013-2014 school year must complete at least one online learning course prior to graduation.

Georgia Virtual School

The Georgia Virtual School was founded in 2005 to provide schools and students with alternative lessons to supplement traditional classroom learning. GVS offers teacher-led virtual classroom environments that are accredited by SACS and CASI. Courses are provided for free to middle school and high school students who are enrolled in the Georgia public school system. They are also available to non-residents for a fee. Students who are studying from home or looking to take advanced coursework stand to gain the most from the school's services.

Popular Degree Programs in Georgia

According to Business Insider, business administration degrees are among the most popular in Georgia. Business administration graduates find careers in accounting, marketing, and human resources, and many increase their earning potential by completing an MBA. Georgia also reports a high number of elementary education majors compared to other regions, which aligns with the state's growing demand for teachers.

• Business: Majors often specialize in a field like finance, accounting, operations management, or marketing. After graduation, business majors work as operations managers, accountants, financial managers, and business operations specialists. These positions offer above-average salaries for candidates with a bachelor's degree.

• Education: Georgia has a high demand for educators in multiple teaching fields. For example, the Georgia Department of Labor projects that the state will add more than 4,500 new elementary teacher openings each year. Earning a degree in education is the first step toward earning a teaching license.

Paying for College in Georgia

For many prospective students, cost plays a large role in the college selection process. Georgia students benefit from the state's strong grant aid system, which offers more funding per student than any other state except North Carolina. For example, Georgia provides service scholarships for students attending a Georgia military college online. Candidates who enroll in public institutions also save a significant amount on tuition, and many distance learners use scholarships to pay for their degree.

Tuition Prices

Georgia residents can take advantage of the state's low public school tuition rates. Georgia's public two-year and four-year institutions offer rates lower than the national average, saving students money. Online learners may also avoid commuting, parking, and transportation costs. Along with tuition, students should budget for books, technology fees, living costs, and other expenses.

Average Price for In-State Tuition and Fees by Institution Type, 2017-18

Source: College Board

Employment Outlook in Georgia

Georgia's economy employs over 4 million workers. Professionals in the state earn annual mean wages close to the national average, while the unemployment rate remains below the national figure. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, many of the state's fastest-growing careers require a bachelor's degree. Openings for general and operations managers, for example, may add 9,000 new jobs each year in a position that offers average wages of more than $115,000 a year. College graduates are also unemployed less frequently than other workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

Source: BLS

Source: BLS

Accreditation for Colleges in Georgia

Selecting an accredited college is crucial to receiving a quality education. Accreditation benefits students in several ways: credits earned through regionally accredited online colleges in Georgia are more likely to transfer to other schools, and accredited degrees meet many licensing and certification requirements. Only students at accredited institutions qualify to participate in federal financial aid programs. During the accreditation process, an independent agency evaluates a school's academic standards, student learning outcomes, graduation requirements, and faculty qualifications to ensure that students receive a high-quality education. Colleges that meet the standards earn accreditation, and maintain their status by undergoing regular reviews.

Regional and national accreditation agencies evaluate entire colleges and universities. In general, regional organizations review liberal arts and research institutions, while vocational programs typically receive national accreditation. Regional accreditation is generally viewed as the more prestigious designation. Regionally accredited online colleges in Georgia meet the same standards as their on-campus counterparts. In Georgia, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools grants regional accreditation. In addition to institutional regional and national accreditation, many online and traditional programs hold specialized accreditation. Departments and disciplines like business, education, social work, and counseling often demonstrate their academic rigor by seeking programmatic accreditation.

Scholarships for Georgia Online College Students

Scholarships can provide thousands of dollars toward educational costs, and do not need to be paid back. Online students in Georgia have a variety of scholarship opportunities, including several awards specifically for Georgia residents. To qualify, students may need to meet certain academic qualifications or pursue a particular major or degree.

Resources for Students in Georgia

• University System of Georgia: Representing all 26 colleges and universities in the public university system, this site provides resources for prospective students, including information regarding online college courses in Georgia. Visitors may explore web-based degree offerings, learn more about applying to online programs, or fulfill general education requirements online through the eCore program.

• Technical College System of Georgia: This site offers information on Georgia's 22 public technical colleges, including online course offerings from the Georgia Virtual Technical Connection. Students can also learn about 17 tuition-free programs available through the technical schools and transfer agreements with the state's public four-year colleges.

• Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission: Prospective and current students can learn about Georgia private colleges from the Commission, which regulates private institutions. The site's student resources include a transcript request form and college performance data.

• Georgia Student Finance Commission: This organization maintains the state's financial aid programs and provides Georgia students with millions of dollars in funding. The HOPE grant alone has provided over $10 billion in aid since 1993. The Commission also administers the Zell Miller scholarship, offers student loans, and provides financial aid consulting for college students.

• Team Georgia Careers: Georgia's career website serves as an information aggregator for state government positions. Run by the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, the site lets job seekers search for opportunities and apply online. Applicants may also search for employment opportunities according to interest.

Online Schools in Georgia