Best Community Colleges in Georgia of 2023

South Georgia Technical College is a public community college in Americus, Georgia, and is part of the Technical College System of Georgia. SCTC offers over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs and has partnerships with companies like Caterpillar, John Deere, MetroPower, Georgia Power, Delta, and many others. This means you have a wide variety of programs to choose from and can benefit from hands-on learning opportunities, internships, and/or networking with some of Georgia’s premier employers. SCTC is the second-oldest technical college in Georgia and one of only two technical colleges in the state to offer on-campus housing. The college is a GI Jobs Military Friendly School and has been ranked #1 in the state by Niche.

Coastal Pines Technical College is a public community college in Waycross, Georgia, with six branches in other cities. It’s part of the Technical College System of Georgia. Coastal Pines offers Associate of Science degree programs, Associate of Applied Science degree programs, diplomas, and certificates, and has over 150 programs, so there truly is an option for everyone. You can study anything from paramedicine or cybersecurity to timber harvesting or cosmetology. At the associate degree level, options range from general studies or business technology to paralegal studies or horticulture. Whatever your interest and career goals, Coastal Pines offers high-quality, industry-oriented programs.

Located in Statesboro, Georgia, Ogeechee Technical College is a public technical college and a member of the Technical College System of Georgia. Ogeechee stands out, among other reasons, for its strong, accessible career services. These services start with the curriculum itself, which is informed by and designed for the needs of today’s workforce. You can work one-on-one with a career counselor who can administer a free career test and help you figure out the best profession for your background, education, and goals. Best of all, you retain access to OTC’s career services even after you graduate. You also have exclusive access to OTC’s online job board, where employers can recruit OTC grads.

Another member of the Technical College System of Georgia, Southern Regional Technical College has its main campus in Thomasville, Georgia. SRTC offers over 130 degree, diploma, and certificate programs, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Residents of the southern Georgia counties of Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth can attend classes at any of SRTC’s four campus locations. Students also have the option to study remotely via SRTC Online. Whether you learn on campus or online, you benefit from SRTC’s outstanding student support services, veteran services, and academic quality. The Stay on T.R.A.C.K. Initiative helps you get off to a good start and complete your degree on time.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a public community college in Valdosta, Georgia, and is a member of the Technical College System of Georgia. Although Wiregrass emphasizes preprofessional skills and knowledge and aims to provide hands-on education that prepares you for the workforce, the college also maintains partnerships with many four-year universities in Georgia, making it easy for you to transfer and complete your bachelor’s degree. Wiregrass has matriculation agreements with over 30 four-year colleges and universities, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Mercer University, and the University System of Georgia. Like most technical colleges in Georgia, Wiregrass also offers dual-enrollment options to high school students who want to earn college credits.

Southeastern Technical College is a public institution in Vidalia, Georgia, and is a member of the Technical College System of Georgia. STC aims to deliver first-rate technical education that is "fast, affordable, and practical," and puts this mission into practice by offering classes during the day and evening and in on-campus, hybrid, and online schedules designed to meet the needs of a fast-paced world. With over 90 programs to choose from, you're sure to find a certificate or degree that can help you excel in your desired career. Because STC places such an emphasis on flexible, accessible scheduling, you'll be able to create a course plan that works for you and complete your program as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves nine counties in northwestern Georgia and is, like the other schools on this list, a member of the Technical College System of Georgia. GNTC offers a range of student support services that help you successfully complete your degree and transition into your chosen career. Such services include tutoring, accessibility, a well-stocked library, and exemption testing. GNTC pairs you with an academic advisor before you start your first semester, and you meet with an advisor every term to ensure that you’re making proper degree progress and selecting courses that will count toward your degree and/or transfer to another institution if you choose to do so.

Atlanta Technical College is, of course, located in Georgia’s capital city of Atlanta. It’s also a member of the Technical College of Georgia system. ATC has a 99% job placement rate and is deeply committed to helping its diverse student population gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their chosen careers. ATC also makes it easy to apply Georgia’s HOPE Career Grant to one of the programs in an in-demand field, effectively letting you complete your degree tuition-free. Examples of eligible programs include Business & Public Technologies fields such as Cybersecurity or Computer Hardware Specialist; Health & Public Safety Technologies fields such as Medical Assistant, EMT, or Pharmacy Technology; and Industrial & Transportation Technologies fields such as Auto Collision Repair or Supply Chain Management.

Lanier Technical College is another member of the Technical College System of Georgia and serves counties in northern Georgia. One place LTC excels is in economic development and workplace development programs. LTC aims to help you get ahead in the 21st century workplace, which is why the college offers highly career-oriented programs like Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Ammonia Refrigeration Training, and a suite of continuing education courses and workshops. You can, of course, also earn an associate degree or certificate at LTC in fields as diverse as Practical Nursing, Culinary Arts, Accounting, and Fire Science Technology, to name but a few.

Savannah Technical College is, as the name suggests, a technical college located in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. STC’s objective is to make you career-ready by giving you the training, knowledge, and skills employers want for high-demand jobs. STC has an impressive job placement rate: within one year of graduation, 99.9% of graduates are working or continuing their education and 95.0% are working in their field of study. This should make you confident that the time and money you invest in an STC degree will pay off soon after graduation when you land a solid job in your chosen career. With over 45 programs, STC can help train you for a career in health care, manufacturing, aviation technology, business and professional services, or industrial technology.