Colleges where the most freshmen return in Georgia
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Georgia9 schools
9 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
How this list is made
- Schools in Georgia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- 98% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 2
Emory University
Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Georgia
- 96% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 3
Spelman College
Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Georgia
- 94% of freshmen return
- 78% graduate
- 4
- 5
Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, GA · Private nonprofit#5 in Georgia
- 88% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Institute of Technology | $12,116 | $21,672 | $102,772 | 94% |
| Emory University | $22,585 | $18,250 | $80,137 | 91% |
| Spelman College | $38,967 | $25,000 | $59,993 | 78% |
| University of Georgia | $13,936 | $18,500 | $68,726 | 90% |
| Covenant College | $26,265 | $22,500 | $50,412 | 71% |
| Morehouse College | $39,013 | $25,000 | $52,889 | 59% |
| Berry College | $22,320 | $23,250 | $53,800 | 69% |
| Mercer University | $23,847 | $24,199 | $58,354 | 70% |
| Agnes Scott College | $24,754 | $26,749 | $56,274 | 71% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15