Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Highlands College is a public state college within the University System of Georgia operating five Northwest Georgia campuses plus GHC Online, delivering 39 associate and 10 bachelor's degree pathways to traditional, transfer, adult, dual enrollment, and international students.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersRome, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Georgia Highlands College does
Georgia Highlands College (GHC) is a public state college within the University System of Georgia, governed by the Board of Regents and headquartered in Rome, Georgia. Founded in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, the institution transitioned to state college status in May 2011 and now operates five physical campuses—Floyd (Rome), Cartersville, Marietta, Paulding (Dallas), and Heritage Hall (Rome)—plus a comprehensive online division (GHC Online) serving students from over 30 counties in Northwest Georgia. GHC offers 39 associate degree pathways, 10 bachelor's degree programs, career-focused programs, dual enrollment courses for high school students funded through the Georgia Student Finance Commission, and continuing education. The institution maintains a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio and has been named a Top 10 Finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The college's technology stack consists of standard higher-education enterprise systems: Banner (Ellucian) for student information with the Charger Portal as the student self-service interface, D2L Brightspace for learning management, CASHNet for payment processing (with a 2.95% domestic card convenience fee), Navigate (EAB) for academic advising, Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse for transcript services, BankMobile for refund disbursements, and Microsoft Outlook for communications. GHC has formed notable academic partnerships: a dual-degree pathway with Georgia Institute of Technology in Building Information Modeling Management (one of only two such programs nationally), a Film & Digital Entertainment pathway via the Georgia Film Academy, and clinical education partnerships with Atrium Health Floyd at Heritage Hall for dental hygiene and nursing programs. Compliance scope includes FERPA, HIPAA (Heritage Hall dental clinic as a hybrid entity), GDPR, and SOC 2 Type 2 controls.
GHC's revenue model is a hybrid of state appropriations channeled through USG, tuition at approximately $105 per credit hour for in-state students (with higher rates for out-of-state and international students), institutional and lab fees, payment processing convenience fees, and philanthropic contributions. Customer segments span traditional freshmen, transfer students, adult learners, dual enrollment high school students (state-funded), international students, and transient students. The value proposition centers on affordability relative to most U.S. colleges, geographic accessibility across Northwest Georgia, flexible scheduling through GHC@Night evening courses and 16+ fully online degree programs, and direct career pathways in healthcare (nursing, dental hygiene), construction technology (BIMM), digital media, and supply chain management.
Georgia Highlands College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Georgia Highlands College
- Legal name
- Georgia Highlands College
- Website
- https://highlands.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Georgia Highlands College is a public state college within the University System of Georgia operating five Northwest Georgia campuses plus GHC Online, delivering 39 associate and 10 bachelor's degree pathways to traditional, transfer, adult, dual enrollment, and international students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Georgia Highlands College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education / Community College
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK), Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH)
Keywords
Where Georgia Highlands College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rome
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Georgia Highlands College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: GHC generates revenue primarily through tuition charged per credit hour. In-state tuition is approximately $105-110 per credit hour. Additional fees include application fees ($30 non-refundable), lab fees for science courses, and various institutional fees authorized by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Payment Processing Services: The college uses CASHNet payment service for credit/debit card payments, charging a 2.95% convenience fee (minimum $3.00) for domestic cards and 4.25% for international cards. ACH/electronic check payments are fee-free.
- Dual Enrollment Funding: Course tuition for approved dual enrollment courses is paid by the Georgia Student Finance Commission Dual Enrollment Scholarship. Students are responsible for institutional course-related fees such as science lab fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-State Tuition: $105-110 per credit hour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Out-of-State Tuition |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Out-of-Country Tuition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Application Fee: $30 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Dual Enrollment: No Cost for Approved Courses |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Georgia Highlands College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Georgia Highlands College is a public state college offering associate and bachelor's degree programs across 39 associate pathways and 10 bachelor's degree programs in disciplines including nursing, dental hygiene, business, criminal justice, digital media, and engineering. The college delivers instruction through five physical campuses in Northwest Georgia and fully online programs, serving traditional freshmen, transfer students, adult learners, dual enrollment high school students, international students, and transient students.
Product overview
Georgia Highlands College (GHC) is a two-year state college within the University System of Georgia offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The institution provides over 40 academic programs across five physical campus locations (Floyd, Cartersville, Marietta, Paulding, and Heritage Hall) plus GHC Online. The core educational offerings include 39 associate degree pathways and 10 bachelor's degree programs. GHC Online delivers fully online degree options in Criminal Justice, Dental Hygiene, Health Sciences, Nursing, Healthcare Management, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Career-specific programs in Dental Hygiene (RDH), Nursing, and Human Services provide direct professional preparation. The Film & Digital Entertainment pathway, delivered in partnership with Georgia Film Academy, offers industry certifications. The college also provides continuing education courses and uses the Charger Portal (Banner-based) for student services, D2L for course management, and Navigate (EAB) for academic advising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GHC Online Fully online degree programs and distance education courses providing students with flexible 24-hour access to course materials, 24-hour help via GHC411, email advising, web-meeting capabilities, and full-time technical support. Designed for students needing remote or asynchronous learning.
- Associate Degree Programs Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree pathways across 39 program areas including Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Engineering, and Nursing, designed for students seeking two-year credentials or transfer preparation to four-year institutions.
- Bachelor's Degree Programs Ten bachelor's degree programs including Building Information Modeling Management, Criminal Justice, Dental Hygiene (RDH to BSDH), Digital Media and Communication, Environmental and Natural Resources, Health Science, Healthcare Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Nursing (RN to BSN), and Organizational Leadership, designed for students seeking four-year credentials.
- Career Programs Career-focused programs in Dental Hygiene (RDH), Human Services, and Nursing (ASN) that prepare students for direct entry into specific professions through hands-on, credential-aligned training.
- Continuing Education Continuing education courses and programs for professional development, workforce training, and lifelong learning, serving working professionals and adult learners seeking to upskill or reskill outside of a traditional degree path.
- Film & Digital Entertainment Pathway Film and digital entertainment program offered through partnership with the Georgia Film Academy, providing training in Digital Entertainment, Film & TV Production, Film & TV Post Production, and Film Studies concentrations with industry-recognized certifications and internship opportunities on major film production sets.
- Charger Portal Student self-service portal providing access to registration, financial aid, grades, schedule, and billing information, powered by the Banner student information system for currently enrolled students.
- Building Information Modeling Management (BIMM)
Quantifiable outcome
- Aspen Prize Top 10 Finalist recognition demonstrates national-level excellence among community colleges
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Georgia Highlands College
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Georgia Highlands College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
Georgia Highlands College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Georgia Institute of TechnologyflagshipGHC has a dual degree partnership with Georgia Tech allowing students to earn dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Building Information Modeling Management (BIMM) from GHC and Construction Science and Management from Georgia Tech in as little as four to five years. This partnership enables students to access GHC's specialized BIMM program while completing their bachelor's at Georgia Tech.
- Georgia Film AcademycoreGHC is a member of the Georgia Film Consortium (GFC), a state-wide collaboration of University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia, and independent institutions. The partnership enables Film & Digital Entertainment pathway students to take courses through the Georgia Film Academy, gaining exposure, training, and placement within the fast-growing film and entertainment industry. Students can earn industry certifications and apply for internships on major film production sets.
- Atrium Health FloydcoreThe Atrium Health Floyd School of Health Sciences at Heritage Hall provides healthcare education programs including dental hygiene and nursing. This partnership provides clinical education opportunities and prepares students for healthcare careers to address regional workforce needs.
- University System of GeorgiacoreGHC operates under the governance of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. This provides institutional accreditation, regulatory oversight, transfer pathways to all USG institutions, and access to shared resources and systems including Banner student information system and D2L learning management platform.
- Kennesaw State UniversityminorThe Marietta location was originally opened in 2005 on the campus of Southern Polytechnic State University (now Kennesaw State University) and continues to serve the Cobb County area with GHC educational programs.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Georgia Highlands College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Kennesaw State University: Kennesaw State University is the regional USG partner institution where GHC's Marietta site originated; it offers a broader array of bachelor's and graduate programs and competes for transfer students in the Cobb County/Northwest Georgia market.
Direct peers
- Atlanta Metropolitan State College: Atlanta Metropolitan State College is a USG state college offering associate and bachelor's programs to an urban Georgia audience — directly comparable in institution type and mission within the same University System.
- East Georgia State College: East Georgia State College is a USG state college with multi-campus associate and bachelor's degree programs — a direct peer in scale and mission within the same University System of Georgia.
- University of North Georgia: University of North Georgia is a USG institution serving a similar multi-campus, multi-county region in North Georgia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate programs — direct peer in regional public higher education.
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College: ABAC is a USG state college offering associate and bachelor's degree programs with a regional service model — directly comparable to GHC's institutional profile within the University System of Georgia.
- Dalton State College: Dalton State College is another University System of Georgia state college located in Dalton, Georgia, serving Northwest Georgia with associate and bachelor's degree programs in a similar regional market to GHC.
- Georgia Gwinnett College: Georgia Gwinnett College is a USG state college offering associate and bachelor's degree programs to a multi-campus regional Georgia audience — directly comparable peer in scale and institutional mission within the University System.
- South Georgia State College: South Georgia State College is a USG state college with multiple campuses offering associate and bachelor's programs — directly comparable peer within the same state college system serving a different regional market.
- Gordon State College: Gordon State College is a USG state college offering associate and bachelor's degree programs to a regional Georgia audience — directly comparable in scale, mission, and target student population.
Emerging players
- Georgia Northwestern Technical College: Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves the same Northwest Georgia region with technical certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees — a complementary public postsecondary peer for workforce-oriented students in the same service area.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Georgia Highlands College social profiles
Digital presenceGeorgia Highlands College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Georgia Highlands College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Georgia Highlands College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Georgia Highlands College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Georgia Highlands College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Georgia Highlands College
What does Georgia Highlands College do?
Georgia Highlands College is a public state college offering associate and bachelor's degree programs across 39 associate pathways and 10 bachelor's degree programs in disciplines including nursing, dental hygiene, business, criminal justice, digital media, and engineering. The college delivers instruction through five physical campuses in Northwest Georgia and fully online programs, serving traditional freshmen, transfer students, adult learners, dual enrollment high school students, international students, and transient students.
Is Georgia Highlands College a public or private company?
Georgia Highlands College is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Georgia Highlands College founded?
Georgia Highlands College was founded in 1970.
Where is Georgia Highlands College based?
Georgia Highlands College is headquartered in Rome, United States, in the North America region.
How does Georgia Highlands College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are payment Processing Services and dual Enrollment Funding.
Who are Georgia Highlands College's main competitors?
Kennesaw State University is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Atlanta Metropolitan State College, East Georgia State College, University of North Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Dalton State College, Georgia Gwinnett College, South Georgia State College and Gordon State College. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is listed as an emerging player.
Does Georgia Highlands College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Georgia Highlands College.
What industry is Georgia Highlands College in?
Georgia Highlands College's product category is Higher Education / Community College. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAA, Public Community Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAK, Rural/Regional Community Colleges. Its NAICS code is 61121 and its SIC code is 8200.