Georgia Highlands Places 2nd Among Top 5 Colleges in Georgia

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Cartersville, GA -- Georgia Highlands College was recently recognized by Schools.com in its 2016 “Best Of” list as number two in the Top Five Best State Colleges in Georgia.

Schools.com, which focuses on what career-minded students are most interested in, touted GHC for its transfer rate to four-year schools and its affordable tuition cost.

Schools.com notes the following about the Rome-based institution:

Taking second place in the top five for its transfer rate to four-year schools and capturing the No. 2 ranking in the USG for cost of tuition, fees and supplies was Georgia Highlands College, a medium-sized campus located in the southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains…the college offers classes on weekends and evenings and expanded its geographical reach with additional instructional sites in Cartersville, Marietta, Dallas and Douglasville to accommodate those who live at a distance from the main campus.”

The ranking also noted GHC’s study abroad programs, saying, “Students at GHC have the option of taking trips outside the country to learn, sightsee and participate in cultural activities designed to expand their perspective.”

Those study abroad options include three trips to a University of Georgia campus in Costa Rica and a summer trip to Kennesaw State University’s campus in Italy.

GHC joins the list alongside Georgia Perimeter College, Bainbridge State College, Darton State College and Atlanta Metropolitan State College.

“GHC has had quite a bit of success over the past year,” GHC President Don Green said. “We were rated best ‘return on investment’ for state colleges in Georgia by a federal report; we have seen a rise in enrollment with over seven percent growth for fall and over six percent growth for spring; we recently graduated another class of bachelor students from our nursing program, which was also listed as the second most affordable nursing program in the nation; we are working more closely with students to help them stay on track and complete with our student success coach initiative; and we have seen a 21 percent increase in Latino student enrollment.”

State colleges within the University System of Georgia were ranked by Schools.com on the percentage of students enrolled in distance education; cost of attendance; student-to-faculty ratio; graduation rate; and transfers to University System of Georgia institutions.

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PHOTO: Several 2015 graduates pose during GHC’s 2015 Commencement. Credit: Georgia Highlands College