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Henry W. Grady HouseHenry W. Grady House · Photo: Fred D. Nichols, Photographer · Public domain
Colleges in and near Athens

Athens is a college town: 26 of every 100 residents are students

The University of Georgia (40,273 students on campus) and Athens Technical College (3,346) are inside the town. Across Georgia, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town26% of residents are studentsUniversity of GeorgiaAthens Technical College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Athens. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
43,619 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
University of Georgia
Residents in college
26%
Above GA (6%)
Nearest community college
3.1 mi
Athens Technical College · $3,390 tuition
Nearest public university
0.5 mi
University of Georgia · $11,450 in-state
Students on campus in Athens
43,619
next to 129,921 residents

What stands out about college in Athens

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town26 of every 100 Athens residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.Two colleges within 3.1 milesUniversity of Georgia admits 38% of applicants. Together they have 43,619 students on campus.In-state price at University of GeorgiaLiving in Georgia, the University of Georgia charges $11,450 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $31,688. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 3.1 miles awayAthens Technical College in Athens: tuition and fees $3,390 a year for Georgia residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Athens

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

26 of every 100 Athens residents are in college (GA: 6).

43,619students on campus at Athens’ 2 colleges, next to 129,921 residents (dorm students count as residents)
23,997college students live in Athens households rather than dorms
29.6median age · GA 37.6
53%of residents are women · GA 51% (±0.2 points)
59%of homes rented · GA 34%
$1,219median rent · 12% below the state
Cost of living$1,219/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBIC−HealthCDC estimatesJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundC+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Athens’ other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income C+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 26.2% of Athens residents are below the poverty line, 16.7% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 2 points either way). 62% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (26% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Athens’ median age is 29.6 (Georgia 37.6), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety C−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Athens

Both are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Athens.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of GeorgiaAthens Technical CollegeAthens
University or collegeCommunity college
University of GeorgiaUniversity or college · Public · 40,273 on campus · In Athens38%admitted$14knet price90%graduate$69kearningsAthens Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,346 on campus · In Athens$7knet price51%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $3,390 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Athens’ median household income ($53,625) falls.

Athens Technical CollegeIn Athens · sticker $15,783 · tuition $3,390$8,345a year
University of GeorgiaIn Athens · sticker $27,993$13,096a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Athens: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of GeorgiaAthens Technical College
University of Georgia90% graduate$69k earnings$18k typical debt
Athens Technical College51% graduate$36k earnings

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Athens

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Athens’ 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 26%Biology 8%Communication 8%Psychology 6%Social sciences 6%Interdisciplinary 4%Everything else 42%

Biggest programs

Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Georgia · 591 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Georgia · 573 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Georgia · 545 graduates a year
$97k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of Georgia · 398 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
Management Information Systems and ServicesUniversity of Georgia · 369 graduates a year
$113k4 yrs out
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationUniversity of Georgia · 298 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentUniversity of Georgia · 266 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
InsuranceUniversity of Georgia · 252 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Athens

Is Athens a college town?

Yes. 26 of every 100 Athens residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Georgia. The University of Georgia has 40,273 students on campus, next to 129,921 residents.

What colleges are in Athens?

The University of Georgia and Athens Technical College are inside the town.

Why is Athens’ poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 26.2% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 16.7% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 2 points).

What is the closest community college to Athens, and what does it cost?

Athens Technical College in Athens, 3.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,390 a year for Georgia residents; the federal net price, $6,949, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into the University of Georgia?

The University of Georgia admitted 38% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,270–1,480 on the SAT.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Athens. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →