2024 Best Online Community Colleges in Georgia

Vidalia's Southeastern Technical College (STC) offers a limited selection of online associate degrees you can pursue. The school also provides several non-degree-granting diplomas and technical certificates of credits to help build skills to meet employer demands. Some notable degrees include Business Healthcare Technology, Criminal Justice Technology, and Cybersecurity.

Why we like them: If you’re not looking to empty your savings for higher education, consider attending STC. STC is quite an affordable institution, with an average annual cost of $6,400, about 80% less than it costs to attend similar schools. We understand that seeking further education can financially burden some students, so we appreciate STC’s efforts to provide low-cost tuition.

Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC) is a predominantly Black institution offering online associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs. Some online associate degrees you can pursue at this college include Business Management, Computer Support Specialist, and Criminal Justice Technology. OFTC’s online programs are delivered in two formats, including fully online and blended.

Why we like them: If you don’t have a high school diploma or GED, OFTC offers several basic entry-level workforce technical certifications you can pursue. These programs can equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to obtain an entry-level position in a career in your chosen field. By providing these certificate programs, OFTC ensures that every student, regardless of educational background, has a chance to pursue a fulfilling career.

Columbus Technical College (CTC) offers a limited number of online associate degrees you can explore. Majors you can study include General Studies, Accounting, Business Technology, Computer Support Specialist, Information Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Business Management, Human Resources Management, and Paralegal Studies. These programs can help you obtain the knowledge and skills to pursue your chosen career.

Why we like them: CTC offers the CARE Center, which focuses on helping you complete your online courses and ensure you have the support you need to graduate. You’ll also have access to career counselors and career placement specialists who can help you select a career and ensure you meet employment objectives. This initiative shows that CTC cares about your academic success and what you achieve after graduation.

If you’re interested in business or computer science, August Techical College (Augusta Tech) offers several online associate degrees in these specialties. You can take online courses for majors like accounting, business technology, and computer programming. In addition to online degrees, there’s a plethora of online diplomas and technical certificates of credit within these two specialties. Augusta Tech delivers online courses in the following formats: asynchronous, synchronous, eCampus, and blended.

Why we like them: If you’ve never taken online courses before, it can be an intimidating experience. To prepare you for distance education, Augusta Tech requires every online student to take Badge Training. Badge Training is a tutorial and assessment that aims to increase your chances of success in a virtual learning environment. In this training, you’ll learn how to use Blackboard, the college’s learning management system.

Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) is a public institution offering seven online associate degrees along with certificates and diplomas. Computer programming is one of the school's more popular options, but you may also be interested in studying cybersecurity, computer networking, or business technology. There’s also an abundance of online courses you can take in areas like drafting, economics, and medical assisting. Please note that some online programs may require you to complete in-person components, such as labs.

Why we like them: Gwinnett Tech uses the online learning management system eCampus. This platform lets you complete assignments, connect with professors and classmates in real-time, and access any resources you need to succeed in your program. We appreciate that the school partners with a great learning management system to deliver high-quality online learning experiences.

Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) is a public college designated as a predominantly Black institution that offers 13 online associate programs and various diplomas and certificates. You can choose from subjects like accounting, business management, marketing, cybersecurity, logistics, and web design. These associate degrees require 60-72 credit hours, which you can complete within two years as a full-time student.

Why we like them: By attending CGTC, you’ll have access to free online business skills training in time management, business etiquette, goal setting, and more. Like for-credit college courses, you’ll be part of self-paced, instructor-led, and face-to-face virtual learning for these training programs. We believe CGTC’s offering of these online training courses can give you soft skills you can use in any career.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) features 15 online associate degrees and dozens of certificates and diplomas. Some online associate degrees you can pursue include Healthcare Management, Accounting, Business Management, Criminal Justice Technology, and Web Design. The school’s two-year programs can require 61-64 credit hours to complete. In addition, you may also be required to complete in-person activities, such as internships.

Why we like them: GNTC offers various delivery options for online learning. Availability may vary depending on the program, but you may take blended, telepresence, or e-Campus online courses delivered asynchronously or synchronously. Having a variety of online delivery options shows GNTC wants to give students enough flexibility to complete coursework while managing their other obligations.

Southern Crescent Technical College (SC Tech) is a public college designated as a predominantly Black institution. The school offers 38 online associate degrees as well as certificates and diplomas. You can choose to study accounting, business technology, business management, early childhood care and education, public safety, and more.

Why we like them: SC Tech provides several student services to help you academically succeed. Some resources you can access include tutoring, veteran’s assistance, testing services, and disability services. In addition, SC Tech uses the Blackboard learning management system to facilitate online learning. The school’s offerings for student assistance and its robust learning management system show that it genuinely wants to see its students thrive.

Georgia Military College (GMC) is a military-friendly public college designated as a predominantly Black institution that offers 21 online associate degrees and three online bachelor's degrees you can enroll in. If you are seeking an associate degree, you can study pre-nursing, cybersecurity, business administration, criminal justice, and social work, among many other options. These degrees typically require 70-73 quarter hours, and the school's accelerated courses, delivered through the Moodle platform, allow you to earn an associate degree in one to two years.

Why we like them: If you’re a service member or veteran, you’ll find GMC very accommodating to your needs. The school offers benefits like tuition assistance, financial aid assistance, advising, scholarships, and credit for previous courses and experience where eligible. As a military institution, we like that GMC ensures that students with military backgrounds are cared for.

At Chattahoochee Technical College (Chattahoochee Tech), you can earn one of several online associate degrees. Areas of study include business management, marketing management, business technology, accounting, supply chain management, criminal justice, early childhood education, and drafting. These associate degrees typically require you to complete 62-64 credit hours to be eligible for graduation.

Why we like them: Chattahoochee Tech allows you to enroll in Learning Support (LS) courses. These courses help you master foundational skills before beginning credit courses for your degree. The school offers remedial math, English, and reading courses you can take. Chattahoochee’s willingness to help students prepare for college-level courses shows that it truly wants them to succeed.

At West Georgia Technical College (WGTC), you can choose to earn one of seven online associate degrees or a number of other certificates and diplomas. One of the school's most notable programs is the associate degree in accounting. Other areas you can study online include fire science, business technology, cybersecurity, and more.

Why we like them: If you need help completing online courses, WGTC provides free 24/7 online tutoring. You can do face-to-face virtual tutoring for subjects like math, writing, accounting, computers, and more through a partnership between the school and a platform called Upswing. By providing 24/7 tutoring assistance, WGTC ensures online students have flexibility in accessing additional resources.

At Albany Technical College (Albany Tech), you can select from 13 online associate degrees and several online certificates and diplomas. Some possible areas of study you can pursue include business management, e-commerce, marketing management, operations management, and health information technology. If you’re not ready to go the degree route, you can study certificate and diploma programs in topics like accounting technology, cybersecurity, and supply chain management.

Why we like them: Before enrolling in one of Albany Tech’s online programs, you must complete the SmarterMeasure Distance Learning Readiness Assessment. This assessment helps you better understand whether or not you’re ready for online learning. By offering this assessment, Albany Tech is committed to ensuring you’re prepared for the challenges of completing an online program.

The state-run Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) has been designated a predominantly Black institution. In addition to diplomas and certificates, the school offers 14 online associate degrees. The associate in accounting program is one of the school's top-ranking programs, but students can also study business management, computer programming, criminal justice, design and media production, and more. You’ll be required to complete at least one proctored event each semester for examinations.

Why we like them: GPTC has an open admissions policy. This means that if you decide to apply for one of the school’s programs, you’ll be admitted. This is a great opportunity for students with low GPAs or test scores seeking a degree. GPTC’s open admissions policy indicates that it wants to see every student succeed regardless of their GPA or ACT/SAT scores.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) offers six online degrees at the associate level. You can explore online majors like accounting, business management, business technology, criminal justice technology, education, and fire science technology. Some of WGTC’s online programs are delivered in a hybrid format, which means you’ll have to complete in-person components to graduate.

Why we like them: If WGTC doesn’t offer a major you’re interested in, they partner with several online programs to ensure you can pursue a degree you’re passionate about. The college is part of a network of additional online programs and courses offered at other colleges through the Georgia Virtual Technical Connection (GVTC) and the Technical College College System of Georgia’s eCampus system. We appreciate WGTC’s willingness to introduce you to other colleges to find the right program for you.

Lanier Technical College (LTC) offers online associate degrees to help prepare you to enter the workforce or transfer to four-year institutions. Online degrees are available in fields such as business, computer programming, criminal justice, cybersecurity, emergency management, and fire science technology. In addition to online degrees, LTC also offers numerous non-degree-granting certificates and diplomas in many of the same areas of study mentioned above.

Why we like them: LTC offers the free SmarterMeasure tool to help you assess your readiness for college education. This assessment helps you better understand your learning style and potential weaknesses and strengths in navigating an online learning environment. By offering the SmarterMeasure tool, LTC genuinely wants to ensure you’re prepared for college-level coursework in a virtual learning environment before you apply for a degree.

Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) offers select online associate degrees you can explore. A little over a quarter of OTC students participate in online-only education. Online degrees are available in accounting, business management, business technology, computer information systems, criminal justice, health information management technology, and technical studies. Certificates and diplomas are also available in these areas of study if you want to build job skills but aren't interested in earning degrees.

Why we like them: Since OTC is such a small college, you receive more individualized instruction from your instructors. Being part of small classes also allows you to connect with your peers. Although you won’t be meeting in person, we still believe it is crucial to foster relationships with your instructors and classmates in a virtual environment, and you can do that at OTC.