Georgia doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 29 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 29 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Carrollton came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Georgia For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Georgia's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | University of West Georgia |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,520 (27 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 27,392 |
| Median rent | $1,089 |
| Graduation rate | 49% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,981 |
Carrollton is home to University of West Georgia. There are 27 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,089 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,981 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Emory University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 66,838 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 505,268 |
| Median rent | $1,711 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,103 |
Atlanta is home to Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Emory University. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,711 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,103 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Kennesaw State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 41,254 (119 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 34,605 |
| Median rent | $1,845 |
| Graduation rate | 52% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,008 |
Kennesaw is home to Kennesaw State University. There are 119 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,845 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,008 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Georgia Gwinnett College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 11,344 (37 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 30,954 |
| Median rent | $1,613 |
| Graduation rate | 28% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,547 |
Lawrenceville is home to Georgia Gwinnett College. There are 37 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,613 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,547 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Life University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 893 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 62,263 |
| Median rent | $1,586 |
| Graduation rate | 42% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $41,295 |
Marietta is home to Life University. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,586 a month, and the average cost to attend is $41,295 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Dalton State College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,553 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 34,538 |
| Median rent | $996 |
| Graduation rate | 36% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $12,719 |
Dalton is home to Dalton State College. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $996 a month, and the average cost to attend is $12,719 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Georgia Southern University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 21,790 (64 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 34,149 |
| Median rent | $944 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,430 |
Statesboro is home to Georgia Southern University. There are 64 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $944 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,430 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Georgia Southwestern State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,424 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 15,813 |
| Median rent | $834 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,484 |
Americus is home to Georgia Southwestern State University. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $834 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,484 a year. It ranks 28th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Agnes Scott College, DeVry University-Georgia, Columbia Theological Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,352 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 24,518 |
| Median rent | $1,655 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,799 |
Decatur is home to Agnes Scott College, DeVry University-Georgia, Columbia Theological Seminary. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,655 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,799 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,208 (19 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,210 |
| Median rent | $798 |
| Graduation rate | 38% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $13,956 |
Tifton is home to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. There are 19 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $798 a month, and the average cost to attend is $13,956 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 29 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Georgia
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 29 towns in Georgia that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Georgia.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Georgia.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Georgia
If you're looking for the best college towns in Georgia, Carrollton is where to start.
The best college towns in Georgia are Carrollton, Atlanta, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Dalton, Statesboro, Americus, Decatur, and Tifton.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Georgia for 2026?
Carrollton is the best college town in Georgia for 2026, followed by Atlanta and Kennesaw.
How did you rank the best college towns in Georgia?
We looked at every town in Georgia with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Georgia?
Swainsboro ranks last of the 29 college towns we ranked in Georgia for 2026.
Best College Towns In Georgia For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrollton, GA | 27,392 | 7,520 | $1,089 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | 505,268 | 66,838 | $1,711 |
| 3 | Kennesaw, GA | 34,605 | 41,254 | $1,845 |
| 4 | Lawrenceville, GA | 30,954 | 11,344 | $1,613 |
| 5 | Marietta, GA | 62,263 | 893 | $1,586 |
| 6 | Dalton, GA | 34,538 | 4,553 | $996 |
| 7 | Statesboro, GA | 34,149 | 21,790 | $944 |
| 8 | Americus, GA | 15,813 | 2,424 | $834 |
| 9 | Decatur, GA | 24,518 | 1,352 | $1,655 |
| 10 | Tifton, GA | 17,210 | 3,208 | $798 |
| 11 | Athens, GA | 127,345 | 32,137 | $1,219 |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | 147,898 | 18,346 | $1,382 |
| 13 | Gainesville, GA | 45,032 | 1,029 | $1,299 |
| 14 | Morrow, GA | 6,364 | 4,348 | $1,515 |
| 15 | Valdosta, GA | 55,252 | 6,622 | $1,054 |
| 16 | Sandy Springs, GA | 107,087 | 1,940 | $1,870 |
| 17 | Fort Valley, GA | 8,858 | 2,684 | $886 |
| 18 | Columbus, GA | 203,711 | 5,625 | $1,106 |
| 19 | Barnesville, GA | 6,121 | 2,544 | $846 |
| 20 | Milledgeville, GA | 16,748 | 9,939 | $913 |
| 21 | Thomasville, GA | 18,666 | 998 | $1,077 |
| 22 | Douglas, GA | 11,749 | 1,466 | $680 |
| 23 | Rome, GA | 38,189 | 5,789 | $1,032 |
| 24 | Albany, GA | 67,224 | 5,956 | $931 |
| 25 | Brunswick, GA | 15,307 | 2,979 | $951 |
| 26 | Chamblee, GA | 30,895 | 4,299 | $1,859 |
| 27 | Augusta, GA | 201,528 | 6,001 | $1,142 |
| 28 | Dahlonega, GA | 7,299 | 16,146 | $1,220 |
| 29 | Swainsboro, GA | 7,571 | 1,413 | $836 |
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