Higher Education Options in Atlanta

By Antionette Rollins

Although Atlanta may not be your typical college town, it is undoubtedly a national leader when it comes to providing opportunities for higher education. The State of Georgia has over 200 options for higher education, including 35 public colleges and universities, many of which are located in metro Atlanta. Atlanta ranks in the top 10 among United States cities when it comes to the number of degrees awarded each year at the bachelor’s level or higher, the number of students enrolled and the amount of annual research spending.

The metro area offers a wide variety of learning facilities to meet anyone’s educational needs and suit any lifestyle or personality. Michael A. Gerber, president of the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE) since 1998, describes metro Atlanta as one of a kind when it comes to higher education opportunities: “Atlanta is so unique because of the great variety of colleges and universities,” Gerber says. “There is a great deal of collaboration between institutions which you will not find in any other city.” For example, if a book is not available at a particular school’s library, a student may check out the book from another college within the state’s system. According to Gerber, higher education, in metro Atlanta is comparable to centers that “have a longer running history of higher education like Boston and Chicago.” As the president of ARCHE, what makes Gerber the most proud is “the opportunity to work with so many fine institutions that collectively comprise one of the largest, most important and finest higher education landscapes in the world.”

For those individuals who dream of a traditional college experience with on-campus living and an all-star athletics department, metro Atlanta provides an array of schools to choose from. Right in the heart of Downtown is The Georgia Institute of Technology, affectionately known as Georgia Tech. Nationally known for its esteemed engineering and computer science programs not to mention its stellar sports teams, Georgia Tech shares the Atlanta skyline with Georgia State University celebrated for its energetic campus, outstanding business and law programs and its student diversity.

Not too far from Georgia State and Georgia Tech lies the state’s largest university, the University of Georgia located in Athens, with satellite locations in Lawrenceville and Downtown Atlanta. Also the oldest university in the state’s system, and the nation’s oldest state-charted university, the school is recognized for its business, veterinary, communications and law programs, as well as its nationally ranked football and gymnastics teams.
Other schools offering a more traditional environment are Kennesaw State University, Georgia Southern University, Clayton State University, Southern Polytechnic State University, North Georgia College and State University and Georgia’s newest four-year institution, Georgia Gwinnett College, located in Lawrenceville. Although private, the prestigious Emory University also gives students a traditional college experience. The institution is internationally known for its high-ranking degree programs and professional schools, as well as its leading health care system.

Many top quality liberal arts colleges also call metro Atlanta home. In contrast to the surrounding area’s larger institutions, these schools offer a more intimate educational experience, Oglethorpe University is known for its personable atmosphere and classic education style. Along with the Women’s College, located in Gainesville, Brenau University also includes online and weekend colleges with locations in Atlanta, Augusta, King’s Bay and Waleska. Agnes Scott College, one of the top liberal arts schools in the South, is a women’s college that can be found in the historic city of Decatur, just outside the city limits of Atlanta.

Another liberal arts institution for women, Spelman College, is part of the country’s oldest and largest consortium of private, historically African-American colleges and universities. The Atlanta University Center also includes Morehouse College, the nation’s largest liberal arts college for black men, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Interdenominational Theological Center and Clark Atlanta University, known for its energetic marching band. While enrolled at any of these schools, students may cross-register at another school within the Atlanta University Center.

Metro Atlanta provides many opportunities for individuals interested in obtaining a technical degree, an associate’s degree or transferring to a four-year institution. The area’s junior colleges include Atlanta Metropolitan College, Atlanta Technical College, Chattahoochee Technical College, Gainesville State College and Georgia Perimeter College, which is the third-largest institution in the state. Many of these schools also offer enrichment courses, such as floral design and Spanish for those not seeking a degree.

Although Atlanta has a lively scene for more traditional students, the city is quickly becoming a “hot spot” for institutions of continuing education. Such schools have flexible hours, free parking and online, night and weekend classes for busy individuals who wish to obtain degrees ranging from technical and bachelor’s to master’s and doctoral. The University of Phoenix, DeVry University, Argosy University, Herzing College, Troy University and Reinhardt College are just a handful of schools that allow working adults or those with challenging schedules the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Parent and United States Army veteran Yolanda Williams, who received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix while working full-time in Norcross, describes her experience as both “challenging and rewarding.”

“Once I balanced the needs of my life during that time, I found school to be more interesting and easier to accomplish,” Williams explains. “My family couldn’t be more proud of me.”

Individuals who are looking to nourish a creative talent are in luck, as Atlanta has a fair share of specialty schools sprinkled throughout the metropolitan area. One of the most noteable, the Savannah College of Art and Design, features programs such as writing, digital photography, fashion and painting. The Creative Circus, focuses on portfolio building for students interested in specific fields, such as copywriting and design. Other specialty schools include, The Art Institute of Atlanta, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, The Portfolio Center and Life University, one of the country’s largest chiropractic colleges.

Whether you are a fresh high school graduate looking for a traditional college or university, a student interested in receiving a liberal arts education, a busy parent wanting to obtain an additional degree or someone who simply would like to perfect a hobby, metro Atlanta has a school that will fit your educational needs. The unofficial capital of the South is not only a city with great cultural and economic development; it is also the perfect place for an amazing higher education experience. No matter what your career goals are, you will be sure to find the right institution for you or your loved ones right here in Atlanta.