The Best MBA Programs in Atlanta for 2026
The best MBA programs in Atlanta are the accredited schools that graduate their students and charge honestly for it, not the ones with the biggest name on the building. Hakia analyzed 10 accredited MBA programs in Atlanta and the surrounding metro and ranked 10 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 10 ranked schools runs from $4,176 to $63,400 a year, a $59,224 spread for the same credential.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus leads with a 97 Hakia Score on a 94% graduation rate, at $10,512 a year. Across all 10 ranked MBA programs in Atlanta the average graduation rate is 47%, ranging from 13% to 94%. 4 of the 10 are public and 6 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below. National median pay for the field is $105,770 a year per the BLS, the benchmark every school on this list feeds into regardless of what it charges.
Below is the full ranked table, followed by a school-by-school look at what actually separates the MBA programs in Atlanta: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. This list covers metro Atlanta, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. Every figure is drawn from federal IPEDS and BLS data, and no school pays for placement.
Key Takeaways on the Best MBA Programs in Atlanta
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ranks first among MBA programs in Atlanta with a 97 Hakia Score and a 94% graduation rate.
- Tuition across the 10 ranked MBA programs in Atlanta spans $4,176 to $63,400 a year, a $59,224 gap for the same credential.
- The 10 ranked MBA programs in Atlanta graduate 47% of students on average, from 13% to 94%.
- 4 of the 10 ranked schools are public, where the in-state rate is what Georgia residents actually pay.
- 3 of the 10 offer a confirmed online option, which matters in a city where commuting time is the real cost.
- National median pay in the field is $105,770 (BLS), the same benchmark whichever Atlanta school a student picks.
Hakia analyzed 10 accredited MBA programs in Atlanta and the surrounding metro reported to IPEDS, scoring each on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes, then ranked one entry per school on its strongest program. No school is rewarded for sticker price alone, and none pays for inclusion.
The 10 Best MBA Programs in Atlanta, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta, GA | Public | $10,512 | 94% | 14% | 97.0 |
| 2 | Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA | Nonprofit | $63,400 | 91% | 11% | 93.9 |
| 3 | Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA | Public | $4,560 | 52% | 69% | 82.4 |
| 4 | Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA | Public | $7,344 | 53% | 55% | 77.0 |
| 5 | Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GA | Nonprofit | $25,128 | 49% | 64% | 75.1 |
| 6 | Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GA | Public | $4,176 | 40% | 68% | 68.4 |
| 7 | Strayer University-GeorgiaChamblee, GA · online option | For-profit | $13,725 | 21% | NR | 61.1 |
| 8 | DeVry University-GeorgiaDecatur, GA | For-profit | $16,448 | 13% | 100% | 56.3 |
| 9 | American InterContinental University-AtlantaAtlanta, GA · online option | For-profit | $12,867 | 21% | NR | 56.1 |
| 10 | Beulah Heights UniversityAtlanta, GA · online option | Nonprofit | $7,632 | 33% | NR | 55.6 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
MBA Programs in Atlanta, Compared by Score
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
A Closer Look at the Top MBA Programs in Atlanta
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, GA · Public
- Grad rate
- 94%
- Admit rate
- 14%
- In-state
- $10,512
- Out-of-state
- $32,938
Georgia Tech graduates 94% of its students, above the 47% average across this ranking, on a 97.0 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 97.0, #1 of 10
- 94% graduation rate
- $10,512 in-state vs $32,938 out-of-state
- Top graduation rate on this list
Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Tech is a public institution. Its MBA program lands at #1 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 97.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 72.3 group average. The program graduates 94% of its students, above the 47% average across the ranked schools. Georgia Tech admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 54% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at Emory, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 53,363 students.
On cost, Georgia Tech charges $10,512 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $32,938 out-of-state rate. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Emory University
Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 91%
- Admit rate
- 11%
- In-state
- $63,400
- Out-of-state
- $63,400
Emory graduates 91% of its students, above the 47% average across this ranking, on a 93.9 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 93.9, #2 of 10
- 91% graduation rate
- $63,400 tuition
- Most selective program here
Based in Atlanta, GA, Emory is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #2 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 93.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 72.3 group average, in the top third of the 10 ranked programs, 3.1 points behind top-ranked Georgia Tech. The program graduates 91% of its students, above the 47% average across the ranked schools. Emory admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 54% average for the group. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. The university enrolls 15,175 students overall.
On cost, Emory charges $63,400 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA · Public
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 69%
- In-state
- $4,560
- Out-of-state
- $16,488
At $4,560 a year in-state, Kennesaw State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding an 82.4 Hakia Score on a 52% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 82.4, #3 of 10
- 52% graduation rate
- $4,560 in-state vs $16,488 out-of-state
- Admits just 69% of applicants
Kennesaw State is a public institution in Kennesaw, GA. Its MBA program ranks #3 of the 10 analyzed here with an 82.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 72.3 group average, in the top third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 52% of its students, above the 47% average across the ranked schools. Kennesaw State admits 69% of applicants, less selective than the 54% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at Emory, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 47,764 students.
On cost, Kennesaw State charges $4,560 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $16,488 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA · Public
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- 55%
- In-state
- $7,344
- Out-of-state
- $23,520
At $7,344 a year in-state, Georgia State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 77.0 Hakia Score on a 53% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 77.0, #4 of 10
- 53% graduation rate
- $7,344 in-state vs $23,520 out-of-state
- Admits just 55% of applicants
Georgia State is a public institution in Atlanta, GA. Its MBA program ranks #4 of the 10 analyzed here with a 77.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 72.3 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 53% of its students, above the 47% average across the ranked schools. Georgia State admits 55% of applicants, less selective than the 54% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at Emory, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 34,944 students.
On cost, Georgia State charges $7,344 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $23,520 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- 64%
- In-state
- $25,128
- Out-of-state
- $25,128
Clark Atlanta graduates 49% of its students, above the 47% average across this ranking, on a 75.1 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 75.1, #5 of 10
- 49% graduation rate
- $25,128 tuition
- Admits just 64% of applicants
Based in Atlanta, GA, Clark Atlanta is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #5 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 75.1 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 72.3 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 49% of its students, above the 47% average across the ranked schools. Clark Atlanta admits 64% of applicants, less selective than the 54% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at Emory, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. The university enrolls 4,252 students overall.
On cost, Clark Atlanta charges $25,128 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
Clayton State University
Morrow, GA · Public
- Grad rate
- 40%
- Admit rate
- 68%
- In-state
- $4,176
- Out-of-state
- $15,528
At $4,176 a year in-state, Clayton State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 68.4 Hakia Score on a 40% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 68.4, #6 of 10
- 40% graduation rate
- $4,176 in-state vs $15,528 out-of-state
- Lowest in-state tuition here
Clayton State is a public institution in Morrow, GA. Its MBA program ranks #6 of the 10 analyzed here with a 68.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 72.3 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 40% of its students, below the 47% average across the ranked schools. Clayton State admits 68% of applicants, less selective than the 54% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at Emory, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. The university enrolls 6,163 students overall.
On cost, Clayton State charges $4,176 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $15,528 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. The spread makes the program a clearer value for GA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.
Strayer University-Georgia
Chamblee, GA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 21%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $13,725
- Out-of-state
- $13,725
Strayer-Georgia ranks #7 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 61.1 Hakia Score and a 21% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 61.1, #7 of 10
- 21% graduation rate
- $13,725 tuition
- Online option available
Strayer-Georgia is a private, for-profit institution in Chamblee, GA. Its MBA program ranks #7 of the 10 analyzed here with a 61.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 72.3 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 21% of its students, below the 47% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. The university enrolls 4,916 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Strayer-Georgia charges $13,725 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.
DeVry University-Georgia
Decatur, GA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 13%
- Admit rate
- 100%
- In-state
- $16,448
- Out-of-state
- $16,448
DeVry-Georgia ranks #8 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 56.3 Hakia Score and a 13% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 56.3, #8 of 10
- 13% graduation rate
- $16,448 tuition
- Admits just 100% of applicants
DeVry-Georgia is a private, for-profit institution in Decatur, GA. Its MBA program ranks #8 of the 10 analyzed here with a 56.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 72.3 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 13% of its students, below the 47% average across the ranked schools. DeVry-Georgia admits 100% of applicants, less selective than the 54% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at Emory, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 522 students.
On cost, DeVry-Georgia charges $16,448 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. It earns its place in the top 10 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
American InterContinental University-Atlanta
Atlanta, GA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 21%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $12,867
- Out-of-state
- $12,867
American InterContinental-Atlanta ranks #9 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 56.1 Hakia Score and a 21% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 56.1, #9 of 10
- 21% graduation rate
- $12,867 tuition
- Online option available
American InterContinental-Atlanta is a private, for-profit institution in Atlanta, GA. Its MBA program ranks #9 of the 10 analyzed here with a 56.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 72.3 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 21% of its students, below the 47% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 801 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, American InterContinental-Atlanta charges $12,867 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.
Beulah Heights University
Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 33%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $7,632
- Out-of-state
- $7,632
At $7,632 a year in-state, Beulah Heights is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 55.6 Hakia Score on a 33% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 55.6, #10 of 10
- 33% graduation rate
- $7,632 tuition
- Smallest campus in this ranking
Beulah Heights is a private, nonprofit institution in Atlanta, GA. Its MBA program ranks #10 of the 10 analyzed here with a 55.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 72.3 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 33% of its students, below the 47% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 13% to 94%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 359 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Beulah Heights charges $7,632 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,176 at Clayton State to $63,400 at Emory. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
What MBA Programs in Atlanta Cost
Tuition across the 10 ranked schools runs from $4,176 to $63,400 a year. Clayton State University in Morrow anchors the low end at $4,176 a year, while Emory University sits at the top at $63,400. The cheapest public option among the MBA programs in Atlanta is Clayton State University in Morrow at $4,176; the cheapest private is Beulah Heights University at $7,632.
Over the two years the credential takes, that is roughly $8,352 in tuition at Clayton State University against about $126,800 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.
How Selective MBA Programs in Atlanta Are
Admission odds across the MBA programs in Atlanta are nowhere near uniform. Emory University admits 11% of applicants, the tightest on this list, while DeVry University-Georgia in Decatur admits 100%. A candidate with an uneven undergraduate record has real options here without leaving Atlanta.
That is an 89-point spread, wide enough that the MBA programs in Atlanta do not form a single tier. A file that is competitive at DeVry University-Georgia in Decatur will not necessarily clear Emory University, so applying across the range rather than within one band is the sensible strategy here. Completion does not follow the same order: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus finishes 94% of its students, the strongest on this list on a 14% admit rate, which is why selectivity is one input to the Hakia Score rather than the score itself.
Accreditation Across Atlanta Business Schools
The MBA programs in Atlanta lean private: 6 of the 10 ranked schools are private against 4 public, which is most of why the tuition column above spans what it does. Accreditation is what makes those prices comparable at all. For an MBA the signal employers read is business-school accreditation from AACSB sitting on top of the university's institutional accreditation, and a private school charging $63,400 is not thereby carrying it. Confirm it on the school's own page: Beulah Heights University at $7,632 and the priciest name on this list are held to the same standard.
Why Study for an MBA in Atlanta
The 10 ranked schools sit across 5 towns, close enough that most Atlanta candidates can reach several of them. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus leads, followed by Emory University and Kennesaw State University, and the table names the town of each. That density is worth using: applying to three schools inside one metro costs application fees and nothing else, and the recruiting calendars overlap.
3 of the 10 also run a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in Atlanta in the first place.
Careers and Pay After an Atlanta MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in Atlanta points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay for the field at $105,770 a year, a figure that describes the profession rather than any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $4,176 at Clayton State University or $63,400 at Emory University. That is the tradeoff this ranking exists to expose: in the federal wage data, a higher price does not buy a higher salary.
Set against a single national benchmark, the 15-fold tuition spread on this page is the reason to look hard at the cheap end before the famous end. Clayton State University in Morrow and Emory University feed graduates into the same wage distribution, and nothing in the federal data attaches a higher salary to the higher price. Pay in a metro the size of Atlanta generally runs above the national median, and so does the cost of living that absorbs it. Full occupational detail, including job-growth projections and metro wage breakdowns, is published by the BLS.
Common Questions About MBA Programs in Atlanta
What is the best MBA program in Atlanta?
By Hakia Score, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ranks first among the 10 ranked MBA programs in Atlanta, with a 97 score and a 94% 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.
Do MBA programs in Atlanta require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 10 ranked here are not uniform about it. Emory University is the tightest on this list at 11% and DeVry University-Georgia in Decatur the most open at 100%, so the answer depends on which of them a candidate is applying to. Many programs now waive the GMAT or GRE for applicants with several years of relevant work, and the terms differ program by program, so check them on each school's admissions page before registering for a test. A waiver saves the fee and the study time, and it does not loosen the rest of the file.
How much does an MBA cost in Atlanta?
Tuition among the ranked Atlanta schools runs from $4,176 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 MBA programs in Atlanta does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 10 accredited MBA programs across Atlanta and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 10 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 doing an MBA in Atlanta instead of online?
3 of the 10 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Atlanta this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. 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 $4,176 in-state, Clayton State University in Morrow is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $105,770 a year for the field. It is a national benchmark rather than a Atlanta figure or a promise from any school on this page. Its use is scale: the same median sits behind Clayton State University in Morrow at $4,176 a year and Emory University at $63,400, and that is the comparison worth making before committing to the second.
Our Methodology for Ranking MBA Programs in Atlanta
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.