GHC vs. Georgia State

Should I go to Georgia Highlands College or Georgia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GHC or Georgia State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Georgia Highlands College vs. Georgia State University comparison
Georgia Highlands College Georgia State University College 3 College 4
Georgia Highlands College Georgia State University
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Overview

GHC Georgia State
Location Rome, GA Atlanta, GA
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 4,955 34,974
Type Public 2 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #720
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website highlands.edu gsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GHC Georgia State
Tuition (In State) $2,280 $7,158
Tuition (Out of State) $8,632 $22,389
Room & Board $10,000 $16,328
Avg Net Price $6,779 $16,390
Avg Grant Aid $5,535 $10,928
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 93%

Admission

GHC Georgia State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 30,230
Admitted - 18,826
Acceptance Rate Open 62.3%
Enrolled % Open 24.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.54
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range 1040/1280
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

GHC Georgia State
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 25:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (67%)
  • Health Professions (33%)
  • Business (1%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

GHC Georgia State
Graduation Rate - 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $46,200
Making Student Loan Payments 41% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $10,250 $23,699
Median Loan Payment $105 $245

Diversity

GHC Georgia State
% Men 3% 7%
% Women 7% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 26%
% Black 18% 42%
% Hispanic 11% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

GHC Georgia State
% In-State 90% 86%
% Out-of-State 8% 6%

Campus

GHC Georgia State
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Georgia State University is larger than than GHC based on total student enrollment (34,974 students vs. 4,955 students)

GHC vs. Georgia State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GHC or Georgia State?

  • Georgia State University is 213.9% more expensive to attend than GHC for in-state tuition ($7,158.00 vs. $2,280.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 159.4% higher at Georgia State than Georgia Highlands College ($22,389.00 vs. $8,632.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia Highlands College than Georgia State ($6,779 vs. $16,390)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Highlands College are 63.3% lower than costs at Georgia State University ($10,000 vs. $16,328)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Georgia State University than Georgia Highlands College (93% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia State University students is 97.4% larger than aid received Georgia Highlands College ($10,928 vs. $5,535)

Which college is harder to get into, GHC or Georgia State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Georgia State or GHC .

  • Accepted freshman Georgia State students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at GHC (3.02)

GHC vs. Georgia State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GHC or Georgia State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Georgia State and GHC.

  • Graduates from Georgia State University earn on average $11,000 more per year than GHC graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $35,200)
  • Georgia Highlands College students graduate with a $13,449 lower median federal student loan debt than Georgia State graduates. ($10,250 vs. $23,699)
  • GHC graduates are paying $140 less per month on federal student loans than Georgia State graduates. ($105 vs. $245)
  • More Georgia State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GHC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/