Georgia Colleges Whose Grads Make The Most Money

ATLANTA, GA — When it comes to raking in the big bucks after graduation, it's great to be a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the engineering-heavy institute ranks No. 1 on a scorecard of expected annual salaries after graduation. Some of the other top Georgia schools, though, may be a bit of a surprise.

Southern Polytechnic State University, in Marietta, comes in third on the list, topping bigger and better known schools like the University of Georgia and Georgia State.

The U.S. Department of Education offers a College Scorecard that provides would-be attendees many of the resources they need in deciding where to apply and, ultimately, where to attend. Below is a list of schools in Georgia, ranked top to bottom, whose graduates make the most money after leaving.

The numbers are based on the average earnings of students 10 years after they enrolled.

Federal officials say the College Scorecard is intended to be a resource for choosing colleges, helping students to broaden their college search and compare their top-choice schools. "By using the College Scorecard to
compare costs and outcomes with their future degrees, students are better equipped to make these critical life decisions," according to the site.

The website also provides each school's annual average cost and its graduation rates. The site allows you to sort the colleges to determine who leads and trails in each of these categories. If you click on a school, you'll also get additional information on the school's population and SAT and ACT scores.

Here are the top 20 colleges and universities in Georgia, based on the rankings:

1. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, $74,500
2. Emory University, Atlanta, $59,400
3. Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, $55,800
4. Chamberlain School of Nursing-Georgia, Atlanta, $52,600
5. Strayer University-Georgia, Atlanta, $49,200
6. University of Georgia, Athens, $47,300
7. Mercer University, Macon, $46,800
8. Spelman College, Atlanta, $46,000
9. Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, $43,900
10. Shorter University-College of Adult & Professional Programs, Marietta, $43,600
11. Shorter University, Rome, $43,600
12. Herzing University, Atlanta, $42,300
13. Brenau University, Gainesville, $42,000
14. Morehouse College, Atlanta, $41,600
15. Georgia State University, Atlanta, $40,800
16. American Intercontinental University-Atlanta, Atlanta, $40,700
17. Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, $40,000
18. Piedmont College, Demorest, $39,700
19. Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, $39,600
20. LaGrange College, LaGrange, $39,600

Click here to see where your school ranks and view the entire list of Georgia colleges and universities.

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Photo via gatech.edu