Business Schools in Atlanta

The Best Business Schools in Atlanta for 2027

Key Points: Best Business Schools in Atlanta

  • Emory University ranks #1 in the Atlanta area on a 98.0 Program Score, with a 91% graduation rate.
  • Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
  • Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Georgia Gwinnett College, ranks #7.
Programs analyzed
105
Schools ranked
9
Tuition range
$3,288-$47,180
Average graduation rate
44%

We analyzed 105 accredited business programs in Atlanta and the surrounding metro and ranked 9 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 9 ranked schools runs from $3,288 to $63,400 a year, a $60,112 spread for the same credential.

Emory University leads with a 98 Program Score on a 91% graduation rate, at $63,400 a year. Across all 9 ranked business schools in Atlanta the average graduation rate is 44%, ranging from 13% to 91%. 2 of the 9 are public and 7 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.

Business Schools in Atlanta, Compared by Score

Emory leads at 98.0, and Life closes the chart at 61.3. Longer bars rank higher.

Our Methodology for Ranking Business Schools in Atlanta

Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.

The 9 Best Business Schools in Atlanta, Ranked for 2027

The 9 best Business Schools in Atlanta, ranked by outcomes.

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit

98.0 Program Score
Grad rate
91%
Admit rate
11%
Tuition
Varies by program

Emory University's Master of Accounting is a joint degree with the Goizueta BBA that can add as little as one extra year, and the school reports a 99% employment rate.

  • 99% employment rate, as reported by the school
  • Program Score 98
  • 91% graduation rate
  • Joint BBA and master's pathway

Emory University's Master of Accounting is awarded jointly with the Goizueta Business School BBA and is designed for current Goizueta BBA students. It can be combined with any BBA area of study. Up to 8 graduate accounting credit hours double count toward BBA requirements, and the page says students can finish both degrees in as little as zero to one extra years beyond the BBA alone, taking graduate courses at undergraduate rates. The school reports a 99% employment rate and cites a 2026 U.S. News and World Report ranking for the accounting program. The joint program began in 2014, and the curriculum includes data analytics, machine learning, accounting information systems and blockchain. Students can choose an audit path, one example being a student aiming at forensic accounting.

Emory graduates 91% of its students and admits 11% of applicants. The Master of Accounting has a Program Score of 98 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. Because entry runs through the BBA, it fits Emory undergraduates who want to build the credit hours for the CPA path while still in their bachelor's program, not students applying from outside.

View Emory University's Business Schools Program →

Morehouse College

Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit

85.6 Program Score
Grad rate
59%
Admit rate
44%
In-state
$28,964
Out-of-state
$28,964

Business administration majors choose from four concentrations, accounting, finance, management or marketing, in a division the school reports is AACSB accredited.

  • 59% graduation rate
  • Program Score 85.6
  • $28,964 tuition
  • Four concentrations

Morehouse College offers a business administration major through its Division of Business Administration and Economics, with four concentrations: accounting, finance, management and marketing. The page describes accounting as the foundation of every business field and says finance alumni go on to banks, private equity, hedge funds, corporate finance and wealth management. Management students often follow paths in human resources, operations or entrepreneurship, while marketing students study how to motivate people to buy or engage. Students can also minor in accounting, business administration or sales.

The division reports AACSB accreditation, which it notes only about five percent of business schools worldwide achieve. Federal data show a 59% graduation rate and a 44% admit rate at Morehouse. Tuition is $28,964 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, since the college is private nonprofit. The program has a Program Score of 85.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a leadership-focused business degree at a small college, who know which functional area they want to pursue, and who value a program that frames business study around global markets, return on investment and human capital management.

View Morehouse College's Business Schools Program →

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA · Public

82.4 Program Score
Grad rate
52%
Admit rate
69%
In-state
$4,560
Out-of-state
$16,488

Kennesaw State University's Bachelor of Business Administration in Management offers three specializations and can be taken face-to-face, online or hybrid across 120 credit hours.

  • Program Score 82.4
  • $4,560 in-state tuition
  • 52% graduation rate
  • Three specializations, online or hybrid options

Kennesaw State University offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management through its Coles College of Business. The 120-credit-hour, four-year program starts in fall, spring or summer and can be completed face-to-face, online or hybrid. Core study covers the management of organizations, people and projects, with courses in operations management, entrepreneurship, international business, human resource management and family business. Students choose one of three specializations: Human Resource Management, Venture Management, or Operations and Supply Chain Management. The school highlights hands-on work in its Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, and a Double Owl Pathway lets undergraduates pair the degree with a graduate program such as the MBA or an information systems MS.

Federal data shows a 52% graduation rate and a 69% admit rate at Kennesaw State, which enrolls 47,764 students. In-state tuition is $4,560 and out-of-state tuition is $16,488. The program earns a Program Score of 82.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits Georgia residents who want a large public university, flexible course formats and a choice between people-focused, startup-focused or operations-focused tracks.

View Kennesaw State University's Business Schools Program →

Clark Atlanta University

Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit

75.5 Program Score
Grad rate
49%
Admit rate
64%
In-state
$25,128
Out-of-state
$25,128

The Department of Accounting prepares majors for professional certification and careers in auditing, tax, government accounting, and management consulting.

  • 49% graduation rate
  • Program Score 75.5
  • $25,128 tuition
  • Audit, tax, and government tracks of study

Clark Atlanta University's Department of Accounting offers an accounting major that gives students a practical and theoretical grounding in accounting principles and practices. The department describes preparation for professional certifications and for careers in independent and internal auditing, tax accounting, government accounting, management consulting, and accounting information systems, in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Graduates can also pursue advanced study in accounting and finance. The program states a mission of building the accounting skills students need to become managers and leaders in a global environment. The department is housed in Wright-Young Hall and led by a department chair. The page does not list specific credit hours or concentrations.

Clark Atlanta reports a 49% graduation rate and admits 64% of applicants. Tuition is $25,128 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 75.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a private, campus-based accounting degree with a broad career focus that spans audit, tax, government, and consulting roles, and who may continue to graduate study.

View Clark Atlanta University's Business Schools Program →

Oglethorpe University

Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit

69.2 Program Score
Grad rate
54%
Admit rate
88%
In-state
$47,180
Out-of-state
$47,180

Business majors at Oglethorpe choose a finance, management or marketing focus and can study business courses in Rome through a partner university.

  • 54% graduation rate
  • Program Score 69.2
  • $47,180 tuition
  • Focus in finance, management or marketing

Oglethorpe University offers a business administration major, available as a Bachelor of Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science, through its Hammack School of Business. Students take foundational coursework across accounting, finance, management and marketing, then choose a focus in finance, management or marketing built on four upper-level electives. The page describes small classes, close faculty support and access to Atlanta's business community, and it lists internships at employers such as the CDC, Coca-Cola, Cisco Systems and Merrill Lynch. Business courses can also be taken abroad through the department's partnership with a university in Rome, and every student completes the university's liberal arts Core.

Oglethorpe graduates 54% of its students and admits 88% of applicants, so entry is accessible but finishing takes commitment. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same at $47,180, a private-school price that matters when comparing options. The program earns a Program Score of 69.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a flexible general business degree with an optional specialty, a city internship market and a liberal arts core that emphasizes writing and critical thinking.

View Oglethorpe University's Business Schools Program →

Strayer University-Georgia

Chamblee, GA · For-profit · online option

66.7 Program Score
Grad rate
21%
Admit rate
Open admission
In-state
$13,725
Out-of-state
$13,725

Strayer's Bachelor of Science in Accounting is built around US and international accounting principles, taxation and auditing, and carries a 21% graduation rate.

  • 21% graduation rate
  • Program Score 66.7
  • $13,725 in-state tuition
  • Taxation and auditing outcomes

Strayer University-Georgia offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, available online. According to the program page, its principal aims are to give students a broad, fundamental knowledge of the field, prepare them for accounting careers, and add a liberal arts component that builds communication skills, information literacy and critical analysis. The listed learning outcomes cover US and international accounting principles, applying taxation rules to meet federal and state compliance, and auditing an organization's processes to confirm strong internal controls. Students also learn to prepare and interpret managerial accounting reports for business decisions and to build ethical decision-making habits. The page does not list a CPA licensure path, so students aiming for licensure should confirm their state board's credit requirements directly with the school.

The program earned a Program Score of 66.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 21% graduation rate, so students should ask about pacing, transfer credit and support before enrolling. The school is open admission, with in-state and out-of-state tuition both listed at $13,725. That combination suits working adults who want a flexible online route into bookkeeping, staff accounting or auditing support, and who value an open door over selectivity. Students who need a structured, cohort-based experience or a campus-based accounting faculty should compare Strayer against residential options.

View Strayer University-Georgia's Business Schools Program →

Georgia Gwinnett College

Lawrenceville, GA · Public

64.7 Program Score
Grad rate
21%
Admit rate
95%
In-state
$3,288
Out-of-state
$12,600

Georgia Gwinnett College's 123-credit-hour BBA offers concentrations from accounting to management information systems, with 94% of classes taught by faculty holding terminal degrees.

  • 21% graduation rate
  • Program Score 64.7
  • $3,288 in-state tuition
  • Seven concentrations

Georgia Gwinnett College offers a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration of 123 credit hours, delivered in hybrid and on-campus formats. The page reports more than 2,500 students enrolled across all concentrations and says 94% of classes are taught by faculty with terminal degrees (Argos data, spring 2025). Concentrations include accounting, economics, finance, international business, management, management information systems and marketing. The page also cites an $83,000 median annual wage and 8% projected growth, both attributed to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and describes articulation agreements, minors and certificates.

Federal data shows a 21% graduation rate and a 95% admit rate, so the college is broadly accessible. In-state tuition is $3,288 and out-of-state tuition is $12,600. The program earns a Program Score of 64.7 out of 100, the basis for its ranking. It fits Gwinnett County students who want a low-cost in-state business degree with a wide choice of concentrations, and those who value a hybrid schedule. The low graduation rate suggests students should plan for support and steady course progress.

View Georgia Gwinnett College's Business Schools Program →

DeVry University-Georgia

Decatur, GA · For-profit

61.4 Program Score
Grad rate
13%
Admit rate
100%
In-state
$16,448
Out-of-state
$16,448

A business administration bachelor's with specializations in accounting, marketing and project management, and classes that start every 8 weeks.

  • Program Score 61.4
  • 13% graduation rate
  • $16,448 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
  • Specializations in accounting, marketing, project management

DeVry University offers a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration that, per its program page, builds decision-making, operations and analytics skills. Students can pick a path through specializations in accounting, marketing, project management and more. The page describes coursework in budgeting, project management, leadership and problem-solving, delivered through virtual labs and real-world simulations, with exposure to industry associations and professional development resources. It also says students use industry technology, including AI tools, and study how AI affects strategy, analytics and management. The school describes the degree as accredited, and classes start every 8 weeks, which lets a new student begin several times a year.

The program has a Program Score of 61.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 13% graduation rate and a 100% admit rate. Tuition is $16,448 for both in-state and out-of-state students. It suits students who want a general business foundation first and a specialization second, and who prefer to start on an eight-week cycle rather than wait for a fall term. The graduation rate is modest, so ask the school about advising and pacing.

View DeVry University-Georgia's Business Schools Program →

Life University

Marietta, GA · Nonprofit · online option

61.3 Program Score
Grad rate
38%
Admit rate
93%
In-state
$13,545
Out-of-state
$13,545

Life University offers its Bachelor of Business Administration on campus or online, with a 3+1 pathway to an MBA in four years.

  • 93% admit rate
  • Program Score 61.3
  • $13,545 in-state and out-of-state tuition
  • On campus or online, with 3+1 MBA pathway

Life University's Bachelor of Business Administration is offered on campus or online, with completion time that varies by student based on transfer credits, course load and progress. The curriculum builds a base in management and leadership while covering economics, marketing, finance, business law, human resource management, organizational behavior and ethics. The program frames this through socially responsible business, with attention to social entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, diversity, social media marketing and sports management. Students finish by choosing an area of interest and taking additional business coursework, and they may apply for a business internship through a vetting process. Eligible students can use an accelerated pathway of three years for the B.B.A. plus one year for an M.B.A., earning both in four years.

Federal data show a 38% graduation rate at Life University and a 93% admit rate. In-state tuition is $13,545, and out-of-state tuition is the same $13,545. The program's Program Score is 61.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a values-oriented business degree with the option to study online, and those interested in the combined bachelor's and MBA route.

View Life University's Business Schools Program →

Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.

Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Atlanta

The median school on this list graduates 49% of its students. The highest rates belong to Emory University (91%) and Morehouse College (59%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.

49% Median graduation rate across 9 schools
91% Highest on the list Emory University
1 Graduate 80% or more of 9 schools
  • 80% and above 1
  • 40% to 59% 4
  • Below 40% 4
  1. #1 Emory University91% graduation rate
  2. #2 Morehouse College59% graduation rate
  3. #5 Oglethorpe University54% graduation rate

Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.

How Selective Are the Business Schools in Atlanta?

On this list, 1 of 9 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 2 schools admit fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Emory University at 11%.

79% Median admit rate across 8 schools
11% Most selective Emory University
1 Open admission admit every qualified applicant
  • Admit under 25% 1
  • 25% to 49% 1
  • 50% to 74% 2
  • 75% and above 4
  • Open admission 1
  1. #1 Emory University11% admitted
  2. #2 Morehouse College44% admitted
  3. #4 Clark Atlanta University64% admitted

Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.

Online Options Among the Business Schools in Atlanta

Of the 9 schools ranked here, 2 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Strayer University-Georgia, at #6.

2 Offer an online option of 9 ranked
  1. #6 Strayer University-GeorgiaChamblee, GA
  2. #9 Life UniversityMarietta, GA

Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.

Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Atlanta

Enrollment on this list runs from 522 at DeVry University-Georgia to 47,764 at Kennesaw State University. Of the 9, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 6 enroll fewer than 5,000.

4,252 Median enrollment students, whole institution
47,764 Largest Kennesaw State University
522 Smallest DeVry University-Georgia

Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.

What Graduates of the Business Schools in Atlanta Earn

Rank School Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs Average net priceNet price
#2 Morehouse CollegeMorehouse College $69,422 $38,655
#3 Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw State $70,708 $16,325
#5 Oglethorpe UniversityOglethorpe $54,609 $20,156
#6 Strayer University-GeorgiaStrayer-Georgia $66,108 $17,159
#7 Georgia Gwinnett CollegeGeorgia Gwinnett College $58,367 $10,080
#8 DeVry University-GeorgiaDeVry-Georgia $68,231 $34,523

Four years out, medians on this list run from $54,609 at Oglethorpe to $70,708 at Kennesaw State.

The highest-ranked school in the table, Morehouse College (#2), reports $69,422, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.

After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Georgia Gwinnett College, $10,080 a year, and most at Morehouse College, $38,655.

College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.

What Business Schools in Atlanta Cost

Tuition across the 9 ranked schools runs from $3,288 to $63,400 a year. Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville anchors the low end at $3,288 a year, while Emory University sits at the top at $63,400. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Atlanta is Georgia Gwinnett College at $3,288; the cheapest private is Life University in Marietta at $13,545.

Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $13,152 in tuition at Georgia Gwinnett College against about $253,600 at Emory University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Atlanta from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.

$16,448 Median in-state tuition across 9 schools
$3,924 Public schools, median 2 public
$28,964 Private nonprofit, median 5 private
2 Under $10,000 a year in-state

Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.

Which Business Major to Choose in Atlanta

Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Atlanta do not all offer the same ones. Across the 105 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Atlanta are business administration (17 schools), accounting (10 schools), healthcare administration (7 schools), human resources (3 schools), marketing (3 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.

Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 10 of the schools analyzed in Atlanta run one.

Public and Private Business Schools in Atlanta

2 of the 9 ranked business schools in Atlanta are public and 7 are private, and that split drives most of the $60,112 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Georgia Gwinnett College charges $3,288 in-state and $12,600 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.

2 Public highest ranked: #3 Kennesaw State University
5 Private nonprofit highest ranked: #1 Emory University
2 For-profit highest ranked: #6 Strayer University-Georgia

Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.

Why Study Business in Atlanta

The 9 ranked schools sit across 6 towns in the metro, among them Atlanta, Chamblee, Kennesaw, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 2 of the 9 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.

Keep Exploring

Common Questions About Business Schools in Atlanta

What is the best business school in Atlanta?

By Program Score, Emory University ranks first among the 9 ranked business schools in Atlanta, with a 98 score and a 91% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.

Can you study business part-time in Atlanta?

Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Atlanta, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.

How much does a business degree cost in Atlanta?

Tuition among the ranked Atlanta schools runs from $2,568 to $63,400 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Atlanta living costs, which are a real part of the total.

How many business schools in Atlanta does this ranking cover?

We analyzed 105 accredited business programs across Atlanta and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 9 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers metro Atlanta, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.

Is it worth studying business in Atlanta instead of online?

Only 2 of the 9 ranked schools are confirmed online, so in Atlanta the campus route is the one most of this list offers. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $3,288 in-state, Georgia Gwinnett College is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.

Data Sources