GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE

Georgia Gwinnett College is the first and only four-year institution in Gwinnett. Established in 2005, the school supports more than 11,000 students representing 112 countries and 29 states. However, 76% of its student population hails from Gwinnett County, making GGC education a building block of success in workplaces across the county and beyond.

Located in Georgia’s most diverse county, GGC caters to individuals of varying backgrounds, income levels and interests. Many of them become first-generation college graduates. As an “access institution,” GGC gives all students a chance at success.

In addition to a high acceptance rate, GGC has affordable tuition rates, making college more accessible to students who might otherwise not attend. As a result, GGC has created opportunities for thousands of Gwinnett County students.

GGC’s 21 bachelor’s degree programs were selected in collaboration with local business and community leaders, ensuring that the college supports regional economic development and employment needs while maximizing career opportunities for its students. GGC produces graduates who are prepared to be engaged citizens and tomorrow’s influential leaders.

While GGC offers a variety of degrees in business, humanities and the sciences, its nursing and education programs are particularly impactful addressing shortages of professionals in these disciplines.

The college also recently introduced five nexus degrees. These new, two-year degrees were developed by the University System of Georgia and target the state’s expanding entertainment industry, a key area of economic growth and opportunity.

The college has several outreach programs, some designed for K-12 students in partnership with the Gwinnett County Public School System. Plus, its Center for Emerging Business and Entrepreneurship caters to Gwinnett-based startups, meaning the positive effects are felt largely by the local economy. Since the center opened in 2017, GGC has helped around 3,300 entrepreneurs get businesses off the ground.

The Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center, located in downtown Lawrenceville, is an entrepreneur and small business support facility recently opened by Gwinnett County in close collaboration with Georgia Gwinnett

College. The center functions both as an education center and a business incubator, offering in-person and online services.

With students from across the country migrating to Lawrenceville, GGC greatly impacts the local economy. According to the 2022 USG’s annual economic impact study, GGC generated around $513 million in the fiscal year 2021 and about $5.3 billion in total since the college first began participating in the study. It also brings close to 4,000 jobs to Lawrenceville and the surrounding area.

But GGC’s impact is more than numbers. The school leads community service initiatives and oversees a service learning program. Both of these have earned them a President’s Volunteer Service Award along with a multi-million dollar grant which will help them kick-start a new, studentled tutoring program.

With so much accomplished in its first 18 years, GGC continues looking ahead and anticipates major changes in the coming years. As of December 2022, GGC began offering in-state tuition to five states bordering Georgia. This change is expected to bring an influx of ambitious entrepreneurs into metro Atlanta.

In April 2023, GGC broke ground on a new Convocation Center as a part of its Gateway Project, which will provide a campus-wide infrastructure update and a facility that will offer more opportunities to host community activities. Big things are coming to Georgia Gwinnett College, all of which promise to keep in tune with the school’s mission to drive student success while meeting the educational, economic and social needs of Gwinnett County.

The City of Lilburn is known among residents for its deep sense of community. Just 18 miles from downtown Atlanta, Lilburn offers great convenience for commuters, successful public and private schools, a thriving business community, easy access to major highways and business corridors and wonderful public parks and green spaces. Though it started as a railroad community in the late 1800s, Old Town Lilburn is now a bustling neighborhood complete with local restaurants, a library, shops and in the heart of it all, Lilburn City Park.

Recent accolades include:

One of Atlanta’s Best Places to Live, Newcomer Magazine No. 1 Most Diverse Place to Live in Georgia, Niche.com