Georgia’s known for many things: peaches, southern charm, and football. But it is also known for a deeply religious population, firmly grounded in primarily Protestant tradition. While only 44% of the national population identifies as evangelical or mainline Protestant, 54% of Georgia residents do. And the percentage of Georgia residents who identify as Historically Black Protestant is more than double the national average, 16% compared to 7% nationwide. More than eight in 10 Georgians believe in God with absolute certainty, and 89% consider religion important in their lives.

Education in Georgia

Higher education enrollment in Georgia has seen rapid growth in the past few years. From 2005 to 2010, enrollment increased 33.3%, placing Georgia fourth nationally in enrollment growth. Georgia graduates minority students at rates higher than the national average, particularly among Hispanic students — while nationally only 47.8% of Hispanic students graduate college within six years, 56% of Hispanic students in Georgia graduate. For black students, the rate is 40.6% of students in Georgia compared to 38.3% nationally.

There are 132 colleges in Georgia, including many well-known state schools such as the University of Georgia and Georgia Institute of Technology. There are also several Christian colleges in Georgia, in-keeping with the state’s religious heritage. The makeup of Georgia’s Christian colleges run the gamut of location, degree programs, and extracurricular offerings, from Georgia Christian University, a nondenominational school in Atlanta, to Shorter University, a Baptist school in Rome.

In addition to standard degree programs such as business and nursing, Georgia Christian colleges offer degree programs in theology, Christian education, missions, and youth ministry. While most programs are campus-based, the state’s Christian colleges offer online and distance degree programs as well.

Working in Georgia

Many careers in Georgia are expected to see faster-than-average growth every year until 2020. The ones that will see the greatest growth include nurses, elementary and middle school teachers, management analysts, accountants and auditors, and lawyers. Because there is such diversity in career options, students’ degree options can also vary. Beneficial degrees will include nursing, healthcare management, education, management, marketing, finance, and law.

To find the Christian college in Georgia that best meets your needs — your budget, your timeframe, and your educational goals — check out our list of schools below.