Georgia is home to several prestigious universities and learning centers. Atlanta, the capital and state’s most populous city, boasts the world’s busiest airport, where international students arrive every year to study at the city’s renowned universities.
Additionally, Atlanta boasts one of the country’s prestigious technological institutions, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the famous Emory University. The latter has a teaching hospital renowned for its work in specializations like cancer, neurology, heart surgery, and many other medical specialties.
Georgia’s universities are well-equipped across diverse disciplines, from business administration and information technology to agricultural economics, criminal justice, and epidemiology. You can even find an online PhD in Georgia in all these fields.
Ready to obtain your PhD in Georgia? Here are the top PhD programs in Georgia in some of today’s most in-demand disciplines.
Top PhD Programs in Georgia
| University | Program | Duration/Credits |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Bioengineering, Ph.D. | 5 years |
| University of West Georgia | Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration | 60 credits |
| Kennesaw State University | Ph.D. in Business Administration | 3 years + |
| Middle Georgia State University | Doctor of Science in Information Technology (DScIT) | 2 years + |
| Emory University | Ph.D. in Epidemiology | 45 credits |
| Augusta University | Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Health Sciences | 72 credit hours |
| University of Georgia | Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics | 63 credit hours |
| Georgia Southern University | Clinical Psychology, Psy.D. | 5 years |
| Georgia State University | Ph.D. Criminal Justice & Criminology | 54 credit hours |
| Columbus State University | Curriculum and Leadership (Ed.D.) – Curriculum Track | 63 credits |
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), is the state’s leading technology institution and home to some of the country’s top industrial programs. This Bioengineering PhD is among the most innovative and integrative doctoral programs in Georgia, ranked #2 in the USA. A highly interdisciplinary program, it offers students the flexibility to learn with faculty from various departments, including engineering, architecture, and computing, and Emory University’s School of Medicine.
- Courses: Engineering fundamentals, bioengineering & tech elective, and biological sciences.
- Credits: 33 hours
- Duration: 5 years
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition: $756 per hour
- Financial aid: Fellowships, loans, and federal work-study.
- Acceptance rate: 21%
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
The University of West Georgia, Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Speech-Language Pathology
Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration
The University of West Georgia is one of the country’s 25 most affordable institutions for online doctorates. It offers one of the most affordable education doctorate programs in Georgia.
This PhD in Education focuses on higher education challenges and solutions. It helps students gain advanced knowledge of administration, financial management, and leadership in colleges and universities. This is a top, fully online PhD program Georgia offers, which is ideal for busy working professionals.
- Courses: History of higher education, governance in higher education, and institutional assessment & program effectiveness.
- Credits: 60
- Delivery: Online
- Tuition: $241 per credit
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, federal work-study, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Location: Carrollton, Georgia
Kennesaw State University, Coles College of Business
PhD in Business Administration
Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in the state and has two campuses in metro Atlanta. It has global connections and an entrepreneurial spirit that attracts students from worldwide. This program allows students to complete their studies in as little as three years. This Business Administration program offers four concentrations: accounting, management, information systems, and marketing.
- Courses: Research methods & basic data analysis, analysis of variance designs, and theory & current issues in marketing.
- Credits: 48 credit hours
- Duration: 3 years +
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition + deposit: $96,500
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Location: Marietta, Georgia
Middle Georgia State University, School of Computing
Doctor of Science in Information Technology (DScIT)
Middle Georgia State University is a central Georgia institution that produces many IT professionals, positively impacting the region’s economy. This DScIT program is one of the most job-promising online PhD programs Georgia offers, and complements the university’s undergraduate and master’s IT programs.
- Courses: Information technology strategic planning, data science & analytics strategy, and qualitative analysis for decision making.
- Credits: 54 hours
- Duration: 2 years +
- Delivery: Online mostly
- Tuition: $255 per credit hour
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
- Acceptance rate: 99%
- Location: Macon, Georgia
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University is one of the leaders in epidemiology study. It’s famous for its role in discovering solutions and treatments for diseases of global concern, including HIV, hemophilia, cancer, and COVID-19. As part of this program, students must participate in the TATTO (Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunities) scheme, which involves an orientation in teaching skills in the field. Students also receive ethics training through the Jones Program in Ethics.
- Courses: Epidemiologic methods, analytical foundations of epidemiology, and public health research.
- Credits: 45
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition: $22,900 per semester
- Financial aid: Scholarships, fellowships, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Augusta University, The College of Allied Health Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Health Sciences
Augusta University’s different campuses are spread over various parts of Augusta, the second-largest and second-oldest city in Georgia. The institution comprises ten schools and colleges and houses the Medical College of Georgia. This Ph.D. program in Allied Health Sciences offers a choice between three concentrations: rehabilitation science, health outcomes science, and diagnostic science.
- Courses: Learning theories in health professions education, investigation of a problem, and biostatistics.
- Credits: 72 hours
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition: $391 (up to 11 hours)
- Financial aid: Scholarships, loans, grants, work-study
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Location: Augusta, Georgia
The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics
The University of Georgia is one of the nation’s top public universities and the oldest higher education institution in Georgia. The university offers various agriculture and environment-related programs, with this PhD being one of the best. In addition, it has five research specializations, including agricultural marketing & consumer demand, production economics, and international trade & development.
- Courses: Natural resource economics, food policy, and consumer demand theory.
- Credits: 63 hours
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition: $8,698 per year
- Financial aid: Fellowships, assistantships, grants, scholarships, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 48%
- Location: Athens, Georgia
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is recognized as a military-friendly school committed to providing education to mature-aged students and working professionals returning to study. This PsyD program in Clinical Psychology emphasizes psychotherapy, clinical consultation, and assessment. You can study either full- or part-time.
- Courses: Psychotherapy skills, psychopharmacology, and ethics & professional issues.
- Credits: 114-124 credit hours
- Duration: 5 years
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition: $277 per hour
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, student employment, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 91%
- Location: Statesboro, Georgia
Georgia State University, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Programs
PhD Criminal Justice & Criminology
Georgia State University is one of the country’s most innovative universities. This PhD program focuses on Criminal Justice and Criminology, and aims to produce professionals with in-depth knowledge in one of the two specializations. Bachelor’s degree holders are eligible to apply, but must complete 72 credit hours compared to 54 credit hours for master’s degree holders.
- Courses: Contemporary criminal justice policy, independent study in criminal justice, and juvenile justice issues.
- Credits: 54 credit hours
- Delivery: On-campus
- Tuition: $4,776 per semester
- Financial aid: Graduate assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, stipend, and full tuition waiver.
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Columbus State University
Curriculum and Leadership (EdD) – Curriculum Track
Columbus State University is one of the nation’s most affordable higher education institutions. This education program offers three specialization tracks: curriculum, higher education administration, and educational leadership. It is ideal for professional educators, education district personnel, and educational administrators looking to further their curriculum and instruction expertise.
- Courses: Mixed methods research in education, professional development & learning, and trends & issues in curriculum studies.
- Credits: 63
- Delivery: Hybrid
- Tuition: $210 per credit hour
- Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, military aid, and international study aid.
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Location: Columbus, Georgia
Key Takeaways
Georgia is a popular educational destination for in-state, out-of-state, and international students around the world. Apart from offering excellence in education, many of the state’s universities also strongly promote diversity and anti-discrimination.
You’ll find a range of solid PhD programs in Georgia across various disciplines and with various delivery modes. If you’re a busy working professional, opt for one of the online PhD programs in Georgia or a hybrid format with a mix of online instruction and face-to-face classes.
For more study inspiration, check out our guides to the cheapest online master’s degrees, top online PhD programs, and highest paying PhDs.
Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.
