The Guide to Colleges in Metro Atlanta

By Lindsay Field Penticuff

With more than 50 colleges and universities—both private and public—located right here in metro Atlanta, there’s bound to be a program that matches any local resident’s desire to further their education. From one of the country’s top engineering schools to a world-renowned chiropractic program, an esteemed research institution and a highly credentialed colleges of business, there’s sure to be an institution that meets the higher educational needs you may be searching for.

Here is a glimpse at just a few of the top-ranked universities and college located throughout the area. While these centers of higher learning each offer a comprehensive educational experience and a wide range of majors and areas of studies, they are listed by their areas of specialization.

Chiropractic

Life University

269 Barclay Circle Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 426-2600

life.edu

What was originally established in 1975 with just 22 students attending their first chiropractic class has grown into the world’s largest single-campus chiropractic college. The rigorous 14-quarter program combines hands-on training and academics, helping develop students into highly skilled chiropractic healthcare clinicians. Additionally, the institute has become recognized for its impressive Division of Sport Health Science, which prepares students to work in fields related to nutrition and dietetics, athletic training, exercise science, health promotion and patient advocacy.

Life University Georgia Institute of Technology

Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

North Avenue Atlanta, GA 30332 (404) 894-2000

gatech.edu

Founded in 1885, Georgia Tech’s mission is to “develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human conditions.” The school’s College of Engineering offers 50-plus degree tracks at various educational levels, and the college is consistently ranked among the top 10 schools nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

Business

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw Campus: 1000 Chastain Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 Marietta Campus: 1100 South Marietta Parkway Marietta, GA 30060 (470) 578-6000

kennesaw.edu

The university’s Coles College of Business Master of Business Administration program ranks 19th nationally on the Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Online MBA Programs,” in addition to being among the top two percent of business schools around the world that maintains accreditation in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

University of Georgia–Terry College of Business

Terry Executive Education Center Live Oak Square 3475 Lenox Road NE, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 842-4825

terry.uga.edu

UGA’s Terry College of Business is ranked nationally among the top 15 business schools. As the first business school in the South, the university opened its Buckhead location as a convenience to residents across metro Atlanta. The 38,000-squarefoot campus includes modern conference rooms, a special events space, interview suites, private breakout rooms and tiered executive classrooms.

Reinhardt University

7300 Reinhardt Circle Waleska, GA 30183 (770) 720-5600

reinhardt.edu

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Reinhardt—a private institution established in 1883—among the top universities and colleges in the South. One of its most popular programs is the university’s business administration program, which introduces students to accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management and marketing.

Medical

Morehouse School of Medicine

720 Westview Drive Atlanta, GA 30310 (404) 752-1500

msm.edu

Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine is among the nation’s leading institutions of primary care physicians. It was recently recognized as a top university and college among U.S. medical schools for its social mission, which is to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities, increase the diversity of the

Gwinnett Technical College Morehouse School of Medicine Clayton State University

health professional and scientific workforce and address primary healthcare through programs in education, research and service.

Liberal Arts

Oglethorpe University

4484 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30319 (404) 261-1441

oglethorpe.edu

Oglethorpe is ranked nationally as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. Its program allows students to study broadly, take classes in many different subject areas and build skills geared toward more than just one career.

Georgia Gwinnett College

1000 University Center Lane Lawrenceville, GA 30043 (678) 407-5000

ggc.edu

Established just 16 years ago and located northeast of Downtown Atlanta, Georgia Gwinnett College is the first liberal arts college founded in the 21st Century. The school boasts small class sizes, affordable tuitions and more than 45 degree options for students, whether you’re a traditional student or returning from the workforce.

Spelman College

350 Spelman Lane SW Atlanta, GA 30314 (404) 681-3643

spelman.edu

Founded in 1881 and first named the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman College is a historically black college and university and a global leader in educating African American women. The school is dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, as well as in the sciences. The college also was named among the top 20 “Best Women’s Colleges” in the nation in recent years by BestColleges.com.

Agnes Scott College

141 E College Avenue Decatur, GA 30330 (404) 471-6000

agnesscott.edu

Ranked as the No. 1 Most Innovative National Liberal Arts College by U.S. News & World Report, Agnes Scott serves more than 1,000 students with its SUMMIT approach to reinventing the liberal arts education. Students focus on global learning, leadership development, professional success, digital literacy and more across an array of academic programs. The well-known women’s college has also received the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) designation.

Research

Emory University

201 Dowman Drive Atlanta, GA 30322 (404) 727-6123

emory.edu

Emory University prides itself on being one of the nation’s top research institutions. Students can participate in summer programs researching biomedical or biological projects at Oxford College, apply for individual grants to workshops to help pursue research interests or apply for opportunities to research and graduate with honors as seniors.

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA 30302 (404) 413-2000

gsu.edu

One of the University System of Georgia’s four research universities, Georgia State boasts six campuses throughout metro Atlanta and serves more than 51,000 students. It has been noted by the U.S. News & World Report as the No. 3 Most Innovative University in the country. and the No. 8 Most Ethnically Diverse University in the nation. It offers more than 250 degree programs covering 100 fields of study.

Film Production

Clayton State University

2000 Clayton State Blvd. Morrow, GA 30260 (678) 466-4000

clayton.edu

Clayton State offers a Bachelor of Arts in film production that helps prepare students for careers in the film industry. Throughout the fouryear degree program, students are introduced to the entire filmmaking process, including storytelling, compositing, editing, visual effects, motion graphics and sound effects.

Technical

Gwinnett Technical College

Lawrenceville Campus: 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway Lawrenceville, GA 30043 (770) 962-7580 Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus: 2875 Old Milton Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30009 (470) 282-5400

gwinnetttech.edu

The 140-plus programs—degree, diploma and certificate options—at Gwinnett Technical College allow students to focus on real-world education for real-world jobs. The school’s technical degrees include vocation skills like air conditioning technology, automotive technology, drafting technology, accounting technology and business technology, just to name a few. n