Atlanta locals have their choice of higher education to choose from, with 57 colleges and universities throughout the area, as reported by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city’s educational hub also offers increased flexibility for residents in the metro region looking to pursue degrees and certificates without having to live or travel intown. Local higher education institutions are even making their programs available to those outside of metro Atlanta. From downtown Atlanta to Hong Kong, here’s where the area’s colleges and universities are teaching the brightest minds.

Life University

Students looking to pursue vitalistic health studies have their choice of options at Life University. Prospective students choose from fields of Chiropractic, Functional Kinesiology, Vitalistic Nutrition, Positive Psychology, Functional Neurology and Positive Business with a focus around entrepreneurship for social change. Established in 1974 by chiropractor Sid E. Williams, Life University’s main campus is located just outside of Atlanta in Marietta.

Students with international aspirations can also look to the University’s partnerships and facilities abroad, including its chiropractic clinic in the City of Kaifeng in China’s Henan Province. As part of the Kaifeng 2nd Chinese Traditional Medicine Hospital, the clinic opened in July of 2017 with two Life University Doctors of Chiropractic. The facility serves senior students to complete their academic clinical experience while enjoying Chinese cultural opportunities.

“We are currently developing locations in Geneva for student internships, in Beijing with the Beijing Sports University and in Costa Rica with Universidad de Iberoamérica (UNIBE) with 2020 target dates,” says Dr. John Downes, Vice President for Global Initiatives at Life University.

Kennesaw State University

With 13 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State University (KSU) is the third-largest university in the state. Their locations in Kennesaw and Marietta attract students from across the region and from 126 countries. Beyond the metro area, students can pursue MBA courses in Sandy Springs that fit their schedule; they also can head to Dallas, Georgia, to the KSU Paulding site, which offers degree programs in psychology, early childhood education and integrative studies. With an eye on international expansion, the University also operates KSU in Tuscany at its Montepulciano international location in Italy, where many domestic KSU students study abroad.

Gwinnett Technical College

Gwinnett Technical College offers unique programs to further its students’ careers with over 140 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs from which to choose. Prospective students pursue studies in Air Conditioning Technology, Welding and Joining Technology, as well as courses in Culinary Arts and Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, among others.

Gwinnett Technical College provides multiple locations for the convenience of its students looking to explore new careers. Students can attend classes on the Lawrenceville or Alpharetta-North Fulton campuses to fit their needs and schedule. And unlike many colleges and universities, Gwinnett Technical College also offers convenient weekday and weekend courses, as well as online courses.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Designed with creatives in mind, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) offers more than 40 programs and 75 minors and certificate programs. Students looking to carve a path to creative success have their choice of degrees in Accessory Design, Animation, Branded Entertainment, Immersive Reality, Performing Arts, Preservation Design and more.

SCAD’s degree programs are currently available on campuses in Atlanta, Savannah, Hong Kong and via eLearning. However, the college also offers study abroad opportunities in Lacoste, France, for students looking to expand their world view as they study in an idyllic medieval village with opportunities to explore nearby cities and villages. SCAD students also have the unique ability to start their studies on one campus and finish at another one to suit their location and goals.

University of Georgia

With a main campus located in Athens spanning 762-acres, the University of Georgia (UGA) boasts a long history in academics and a thriving collegiate sports atmosphere. UGA dates back to 1785 and serves as one of the oldest public universities in the country. Students choose from undergraduate or graduate degree programs in everything from Finance, Journalism and Dietetics to Education, Business and Agribusiness.

Beyond Athens, UGA features additional campuses in Griffin, Lawrenceville, Tifton and Buckhead. Each campus caters to the unique needs of area students. For example, the Tifton campus builds on the agricultural expertise of the faculty and staff with degrees and programs relevant to the agriculture field. Meanwhile, the Buckhead campus serves working business professionals in the metro area and offers fast-track MBA programs. In addition to multiple campuses, UGA also runs several research centers, farms and educational centers throughout the State of Georgia.

Emory University

As one of the world’s leading research universities, Emory University is known for its hospitals and clinics throughout the metro area and beyond. Although the university attracts students to its School of Medicine, as well as its Nursing program, the school also offers degree programs in Law, Public Health, Theology and more. Emory’s main campuses are located in Atlanta and Oxford, Georgia (located southeast of Atlanta), offering a choice of urban living or a small-town vibe. Emory University also runs multiple research centers and institutes including the Diabetes Education Center at Grady, the Emory Center for Health in Aging and the Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, among others.

Georgia State University

Georgia State University’s (GSU) multiple metro campuses attract more than 53,000 students from diverse backgrounds. With a main campus situated in the heart of Atlanta that serves approximately 33,000 students, the university offers over 250 degree programs in 100 fields of study, as well as 72 study abroad programs. Perimeter College is also part of the Georgia State University family, allowing GSU to offer five satellite campuses throughout the metro Atlanta area to serve an additional 20,000 students. Students can attend classes in Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody or Newton, or choose from an array of online courses. At these additional locations, ambitious students have access to degree programs in 30 areas of concentration, including nursing, dental hygiene and radiologic technology.

University of North Georgia

As part of the University System of Georgia, the University of North Georgia (UNG) is designated as a State Leadership Institution and The Military College of Georgia. UNG is one of the state’s largest public universities, only one of six senior military colleges in the nation, and offers more than 100 programs to choose from, including business, paralegal studies, technology management and beyond with certificate and associate degree offerings or professional doctoral programs.

To accommodate growth and serve various points in the state, UNG offers five campuses across northeast Georgia, including Oconee, Gainesville, Dahlonega, Cumming and Blue Ridge. The school’s latest location in Blue Ridge fills a need for higher education, as determined by UNG’s Regional Education and Economic Development Task Force.

“Due to growth at this location, a stand-alone campus in Blue Ridge currently is under construction. The current Blue Ridge Campus has experienced almost 800 percent growth since its opening in 2015. The new campus will allow for additional courses in the core curriculum, which means students will be able to spend a longer period of their college career at Blue Ridge,” says Edie Rogers, Assistant Director of Communications at the University of North Georgia.