Schools · Top 10
Top 10 Private Colleges in Georgia in 2027
Direct answer
Emory University in Atlanta is the best private college in Georgia, ranked #1 by Niche in 2026 with an A+ grade and an 11% acceptance rate. Mercer University (#2) and Spelman College (#3) follow.
At a glance
| # | Pick | Niche rank | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory University | #1 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade A+) | The most selective private university in Georgia |
| 2 | Mercer University | #2 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B+) | A broad university with many schools in Macon |
| 3 | Spelman College | #3 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B+) | A historically Black women’s liberal arts college |
| 4 | Berry College | #4 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B) | A residential college near Rome, Georgia |
| 5 | Thomas University | #5 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B) | A small university in south Georgia |
| 6 | Morehouse College | #6 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B) | A historically Black men’s liberal arts college |
| 7 | Oglethorpe University | #7 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-) | A small liberal arts school in Atlanta |
| 8 | Life University | #8 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-) | Chiropractic and health-focused study |
| 9 | Covenant College | #9 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-) | A Christian liberal arts college on a mountain |
| 10 | Young Harris College | #10 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-) | A small Methodist-affiliated college in the north Georgia mountains |
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Emory University
Best for a broad university
Mercer University
Best HBCU for women
Spelman College
Best HBCU for men
Morehouse College
Best small mountain campus
Young Harris College
The ranking
1
Emory University
Photo: Marc Merlin / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictGeorgia’s top private pick.
Niche rank: #1 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade A+)Location: Atlanta, GeorgiaFounded: 1836Acceptance rate: 11%Enrollment: 7,263 students
Emory University in Atlanta, founded in 1836, earns an A+ from Niche with 7,263 students and an 11% acceptance rate.
Go ifThe most selective private university in Georgia
Skip ifYou want an easy admit
Why #1 over #2: Its A+ grade beats Mercer’s B+.
2
Mercer University
Answrs VerdictThe state’s oldest private university.
Niche rank: #2 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B+)Location: Macon, GeorgiaFounded: 1833Acceptance rate: 66%Enrollment: 4,177 students
Mercer University in Macon, founded in 1833, has 4,177 students and a 66% acceptance rate.
Go ifA broad university with many schools in Macon
Skip ifYou want an Atlanta campus
Why #2 over #3: Its #2 rank edges Spelman’s #3.
3
Spelman College
Photo: Broadmoor / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe HBCU for women.
Niche rank: #3 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B+)Location: Atlanta, GeorgiaFounded: 1881Acceptance rate: 34%Enrollment: 2,532 students
Spelman College in Atlanta, founded in 1881, has 2,532 students and a 34% acceptance rate.
Go ifA historically Black women’s liberal arts college
Skip ifYou want a coed campus
Why #3 over #4: Its 34% acceptance rate is tighter than Berry’s 62%.
4
Berry College
Photo: Own work by Froggerlaura (talk) / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe campus-life pick.
Niche rank: #4 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B)Location: Mount Berry, GeorgiaFounded: 1902Acceptance rate: 62%Enrollment: 2,197 students
Berry College in Mount Berry, founded in 1902, has 2,197 students and a 62% acceptance rate.
Go ifA residential college near Rome, Georgia
Skip ifYou want a big-city campus
Why #4 over #5: It ranks #4, ahead of Thomas University at #5.
5
Thomas University
Photo: Jud McCranie / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe small-town option.
Niche rank: #5 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B)Location: Thomasville, GeorgiaFounded: 1950Acceptance rate: 43%Enrollment: 605 students
Thomas University in Thomasville, founded in 1950, has 605 students and a 43% acceptance rate.
Go ifA small university in south Georgia
Skip ifYou want a large research university
Why #5 over #6: It ranks #5, ahead of Morehouse at #6.
6
Morehouse College
Answrs VerdictThe HBCU for men.
Niche rank: #6 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B)Location: Atlanta, GeorgiaFounded: 1867Acceptance rate: 51%Enrollment: 2,374 students
Morehouse College in Atlanta, founded in 1867, has 2,374 students and a 51% acceptance rate.
Go ifA historically Black men’s liberal arts college
Skip ifYou want a coed campus
Why #6 over #7: It ranks #6, ahead of Oglethorpe at #7.
7
Oglethorpe University
Photo: Marc Merlin / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe compact Atlanta liberal arts school.
Niche rank: #7 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-)Location: Atlanta, GeorgiaFounded: 1835Acceptance rate: 61%Enrollment: 1,404 students
Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, founded in 1835, has 1,404 students and a 61% acceptance rate.
Go ifA small liberal arts school in Atlanta
Skip ifYou want a large student body
Why #7 over #8: It ranks #7, ahead of Life University at #8.
8
Life University
Photo: John Phelan / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe chiropractic school.
Niche rank: #8 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-)Location: Marietta, GeorgiaFounded: 1974Acceptance rate: 94%Enrollment: 748 students
Life University in Marietta, founded in 1974, has 748 students and a 94% acceptance rate.
Go ifChiropractic and health-focused study
Skip ifYou want a traditional liberal arts menu
Why #8 over #9: It ranks #8, ahead of Covenant at #9.
9
Covenant College
Photo: Jud McCranie / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe mountaintop Christian college.
Niche rank: #9 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-)Location: Lookout Mountain, GeorgiaFounded: 1955Acceptance rate: 82%Enrollment: 847 students
Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, founded in 1955, has 847 students and an 82% acceptance rate.
Go ifA Christian liberal arts college on a mountain
Skip ifYou want a secular campus
Why #9 over #10: It ranks #9, ahead of Young Harris at #10.
10
Young Harris College
Photo: Harrison Keely / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe north Georgia mountain college.
Niche rank: #10 of Georgia private colleges (Niche 2026, grade B-)Location: Young Harris, GeorgiaFounded: 1886Acceptance rate: 64%Enrollment: 893 students
Young Harris College in Young Harris, founded in 1886, has 893 students and a 64% acceptance rate.
Go ifA small Methodist-affiliated college in the north Georgia mountains
Skip ifYou want a city campus
How we ranked these
We ranked each college by its place in the 2026 Niche ranking of the best private colleges in Georgia, best first. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best private college in Georgia?
Emory University in Atlanta, which ranks #1 in the 2026 Niche ranking with an A+ grade and an 11% acceptance rate.
What is the oldest private university in Georgia?
Mercer University in Macon, founded in 1833, which is the oldest private university in the state.
Which Georgia private colleges are historically Black?
Spelman College (#3, women) and Morehouse College (#6, men), both in Atlanta.
Which private college in Georgia is the easiest to get into?
Of the ten, Life University has the highest acceptance rate at 94%, ahead of Covenant College at 82%.
Enrollment (Niche 2026) at a glance
Thomas University605 students
Life University748 students
Covenant College847 students
Young Harris College893 students
Oglethorpe University1,404 students
Berry College2,197 students
Morehouse College2,374 students
Spelman College2,532 students
Mercer University4,177 students
Emory University7,263 students
Official sites
- Emory University · emory.edu
- Mercer University · mercer.edu
- Spelman College · spelman.edu
- Berry College · berry.edu
- Thomas University · thomasu.edu
- Morehouse College · morehouse.edu
- Oglethorpe University · oglethorpe.edu
- Life University · life.edu
- Covenant College · covenant.edu
- Young Harris College · yhc.edu
Sources
- stacker.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
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