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Colleges in and near Rome

Rome is home to two colleges, with 4,926 students on campus

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (3,882 students on campus) and Shorter University (1,044) are inside the city, and Berry College (2,269) is 1.7 miles from the center, just over the line in Berry College. About 6% of Rome’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Georgia (6%).

Shorter UniversityBerry CollegeGeorgia Northwestern 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 Rome. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
9,800 students on campus
Nearest college
0.8 mi
Shorter University
Residents in college
6%
About the same as GA (6%)
Nearest community college
3 mi
Georgia Northwestern Technical College · $3,300 tuition
Nearest public university
6.8 mi
Georgia Highlands College · $3,120 in-state
Median household income
$54K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Rome

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

Three colleges within 3 milesShorter University admits 96% of applicants; Berry College admits 64%. Together they have 7,195 students on campus.A community college 3 miles awayGeorgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome: tuition and fees $3,300 a year for Georgia residents.In-state price at Georgia Highlands CollegeLiving in Georgia, Georgia Highlands College charges $3,120 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,080. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Georgia (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Rome

Two private colleges within 1.7 miles, one public college within 6.8 miles, and Georgia Northwestern Technical College 3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miGeorgia Northwestern Technical CollegeGeorgia Highlands CollegeBerry CollegeRome
University or collegeCommunity college
Shorter UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,044 on campus · In Rome96%admitted$17knet price38%graduate$45kearningsBerry CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,269 on campus · 1.7 mi · Mount Berry64%admitted$22knet price69%graduate$54kearningsGeorgia Northwestern Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,882 on campus · In Rome$6knet price43%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $3,300 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Georgia Highlands CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 2,605 on campus · 6.8 mi · Rome$7knet price21%graduate$43kearnings

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 Rome’s median household income ($54,435) falls.

Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeIn Rome · sticker $15,096 · tuition $3,300$6,456a year
Georgia Highlands College6.8 mi · Rome · sticker $13,389$7,827a year
Berry College1.7 mi · Mount Berry · sticker $56,697$19,283a year
Shorter UniversityIn Rome · sticker $35,726$22,944a 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 Rome: 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 →Shorter UniversityBerry CollegeGeorgia Northwestern Technical CollegeGeorgia Highlands College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College43% graduate$36k earnings$6k typical debt
Georgia Highlands College21% graduate$43k earnings$12k typical debt
Berry College69% graduate$54k earnings$23k typical debt
Shorter University38% graduate$45k earnings$25k typical debt

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 Rome

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

Health professions 21%Business 20%Mechanics & repair 14%Personal & culinary services 7%Precision production 5%Education 4%Everything else 29%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsGeorgia Northwestern Technical College · 106 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsGeorgia Northwestern Technical College · 64 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/TechniciansGeorgia Northwestern Technical College · 46 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsShorter University · 39 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingShorter University · 28 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsShorter University · 23 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsGeorgia Northwestern Technical College · 23 graduates a year
$29k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessShorter University · 21 graduates a year
$43k4 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 Rome

Is Rome a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Rome residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Georgia (6). The largest campus in the city, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, has 3,882 students on campus.

What colleges are in Rome?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College and Shorter University are inside the city. Berry College is 1.7 miles from the center, in Berry College.

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

Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome, 3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,300 a year for Georgia residents; the federal net price, $5,720, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Georgia Highlands College cost if we live in Georgia?

Tuition and fees are $3,120 a year in-state and $10,080 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,473 (under $30,000 income) to $12,363 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Rome. 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 →