| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year technical college, part of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG); mostly campus-based, with some programs fully online |
| Locations | Seven teaching sites, all in Georgia: the main campus, the Summerville health sciences campus and the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, plus Grovetown, Thomson (two sites) and Waynesboro |
| Service area | Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie and Richmond counties |
| Credentials | Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Science (AS, for transfer), diplomas and Technical Certificates of Credit (TCCs) |
| Typical length | One term for the shortest certificates; three to four terms for most diplomas; four to seven terms for AAS degrees |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC (associate degrees); reaffirmed 2024, next review 2034 |
| Federal aid | Yes (OPEID 00559900) |
| 2026-27 tuition | $107 per credit for Georgia residents, $214 out of state, plus $536 in fees per term |
| Students | 4,455 in fall 2024 (federal IPEDS data); 63% part-time |
| Founded | 1961, as Augusta Area Vocational-Technical School; Augusta Technical College since 2000 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
A Technical College System of Georgia college for the Augusta area
Augusta Technical College, usually called Augusta Tech, is a public two-year college and one of the colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia. It serves Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie and Richmond counties from its main campus in Augusta, a health sciences campus at Piedmont Augusta’s Summerville hospital, cybersecurity classes at the state’s Georgia Cyber Center, an aviation maintenance center beside the Thomson airport, and campuses in Grovetown, Thomson and Waynesboro. It began in 1961 as Augusta Area Vocational-Technical School and took its current name in 2000. Federal data count 4,455 students in fall 2024, most of them part-time. Its most distinctive programs are FAA-approved aviation maintenance, NSA-designated cybersecurity and twelve nursing and health programs with their own accreditation. A new president took office in January 2026.
Programs at Augusta Tech’s seven sites
Augusta Tech awards four kinds of credential: the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) for careers, the Associate of Science (AS) for transfer, diplomas, and Technical Certificates of Credit (TCCs), its short certificates. The college says it has more than 100 programs. The table shows the main career programs in the 2026-27 catalog; costs follow from the $107 credit rate in the cost section.
| Program | Credential | Length and start | Where | Prepares for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing | ADN, 72–75 credits | 6 terms; fall or summer | Summerville only | NCLEX-RN |
| Practical Nursing | TCC, 49 credits | 3 terms; fall (summer at Summerville) | Summerville, Thomson, Waynesboro | NCLEX-PN |
| Nurse Aide Accelerated | TCC, 9 credits | 1 term; fall or spring | Summerville; Thomson (evening) | Georgia Nurse Aide Registry |
| Medical Assisting | Diploma, 48 credits | 3 terms; summer | Summerville, Thomson, Waynesboro | AAMA CMA |
| Dental Assisting | Diploma, 50–54 credits | 4 terms; spring | Main campus | DANB; Georgia expanded duties |
| Pharmacy Technology | Basic TCC 18 credits + Advanced TCC 30 credits | 1 + 2 terms | Summerville | PTCB |
| Radiologic Technology | AAS, 78–81 credits | 6 terms; spring | Summerville | ARRT (R) |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | AAS | 6 terms; fall | Summerville | ARDMS |
| Cardiovascular Technology | AAS, 70–73 credits | 7 terms; fall | Summerville | CCI or ARDMS registry |
| Respiratory Care | AAS | 6 terms; fall | Summerville | NBRC exam (CRT, RRT) |
| Surgical Technology | AAS, 72–75 credits | 6 terms; fall | Summerville | NBSTSA CST (required to graduate) |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | AAS, 73–76 credits | 6 terms; fall | Summerville | NBCOT (COTA) |
| Sterile processing (Basic) | TCC, 16 credits | 1 term; fall or spring | Summerville | CRCST or CSPDT |
| Health Information Management Technology | AAS, 67–70 credits | 5 terms | Online | AHIMA RHIT |
| Medical Coding | TCC, 24 credits | 3 terms; summer; evenings | Summerville | AAPC CPC |
| Air Conditioning Technology | Diploma, 51 credits | 3 terms; fall or spring | Main campus (day, midday, evening) | EPA 608 referenced |
| Welding and Joining Technology | Diploma, 54 credits | 4 terms; fall, spring or summer | Main campus, Grovetown, Waynesboro | Welder qualification tests |
| NCCER Electrical Systems | Diploma 44 credits; AAS 60 credits | 3 or 5 terms; fall | Main campus (day or evening) | NCCER credentials |
| Mechatronics Technology | Diploma, 50 credits | 4 terms; fall | Main campus, Thomson, Waynesboro | – |
| Automotive Technology | Diploma, 55 credits | 4 terms (day) | Main campus, Waynesboro | ASE certification |
| Aviation Maintenance Technology | AAS; diploma 89 credits | 7 semesters; summer start | Aviation center, Thomson | FAA A&P tests |
| Master Cosmetology | TCC, 44 credits | 4 terms | Main campus, Waynesboro | Georgia master cosmetology license |
| Master Barber | TCC, 50 credits | 4 terms; fall or spring | Main campus | Georgia barber licensing requirements |
| Basic Law Enforcement | TCC, 42 credits | 1 term; fall or spring | Main campus | Georgia POST certification |
| Emergency Medical Technician | TCC, 12 credits | 1 term; fall | Main campus | NREMT EMT |
| Culinary Arts | AAS 68 credits; diploma 52 credits | 5 or 4 terms | Main campus | – |
| Early Childhood Care and Education | AAS 72 credits; diploma 53 credits | 5 or 4 terms | Main campus | CDA training hours |
| Cybersecurity | AAS, 75 credits | 5 terms; day or evening | Georgia Cyber Center | CompTIA, Cisco CCST |
| Computer Programming | AAS, 63 credits | 5 terms (day) or 8 (evening) | Main campus and online | – |
| Commercial Driving Class A | TCC, 9 credits | 1 term | Thomson | Georgia CDL; coming Spring 2027 |
Twelve health and nursing programs hold their own accreditation, from ACEN for nursing and JRCERT for radiologic technology to CODA for dental assisting and ACOTE for occupational therapy assistant. Engineering technology degrees (Electrical and Computer, and Mechanical) are ABET-accredited and train technicians, not licensed engineers. Some program names need care: the Allied Health Professions AAS is open only to students who already hold a medical assisting, pharmacy technician or practical nursing credential; the Business Administration AS is a transfer degree; and the Project Management Assistant certificate trains administrative support staff, not project managers. The 2026-27 catalog lists no paramedic, phlebotomy, standalone EKG or CNC machining credit program.
What the main programs cover
Nursing: ADN and Practical Nursing
Both nursing programs are selective. The ADN asks for prerequisite courses with a 2.75 GPA, an ATI TEAS score of at least 67% and an information session, and runs six terms at Summerville. Practical Nursing applicants must be 18, score at least 60% on the TEAS, attend an information session and are ranked on points; the program is three terms. Clinical placements require background checks, drug screens and immunizations. Licensed practical nurses can return through the LPN to RN Transition track, and Piedmont Augusta’s $1 million endowment helps ADN students with costs.
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Aviation students train in a center of about 16,000 square feet at Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport with four complete aircraft. The program is approved under FAA Part 147 and prepares students for the FAA’s written, oral and practical airframe and powerplant tests. The 89-credit diploma runs seven semesters in the day and starts only in summer; an AAS is also offered, and separate AMT, Airframe and Powerplant certificates let students take one part at a time. Applicants can enroll from age 16.
Welding and Joining Technology
The 54-credit diploma combines 8 credits of general core, 43 occupational credits and a 3-credit elective over four terms. Students learn shielded metal arc (SMAW), gas metal arc (GMAW), gas tungsten arc (GTAW) and oxyfuel processes and are prepared to take welder qualification tests; they need a C or better in each WELD course. Classes start in fall, spring and summer at three campuses. Working students can take the 16-credit GMAW certificate in the evenings at the main campus or Waynesboro. Each term carries a $65 welding supply fee.
Air Conditioning Technology
The 51-credit diploma is Augusta Tech’s HVAC credential and takes three terms, with fall and spring starts at the main campus. Day, midday and evening sections are offered. The program references EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification, and a high school diploma or GED is required. Students who want a shorter start can take the Air Conditioning Technician Assistant or Air Conditioning Electrical Technician certificates.
Medical Assisting and Pharmacy Technology
Medical Assisting is a 48-credit, three-term diploma that starts each summer at three campuses and includes an 8-credit externship (MAST 1130). Pharmacy technology is now split into two certificates at Summerville: Basic Pharmacy Technology (18 credits, one fall term) and Advanced Pharmacy Technology (30 credits, two terms), whose clinical courses PHAR 1004 (6 credits) and PHAR 2070 (5 credits) run on weekdays from 8:00 to 4:30. Students should plan for daytime availability during those terms. Both programs hold national accreditation.
Cybersecurity
The 75-credit Cybersecurity AAS takes five terms and is taught in day and evening sections at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Augusta. It is the college’s program with the NSA’s Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation. Coursework prepares students for CompTIA Security+, PenTest+, Network+ and Linux+ and for Cisco’s CCST. Shorter Cybersecurity Basics, Cyber Crime Specialist and A+ certificates are also listed, along with an Accounting Cybersecurity AAS. Classes at the center add parking, shuttle and badge fees.
2026-27 cost: $107 a credit, which HOPE can cover
The 2026-27 fee schedule:
| Item | 2026-27 amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, Georgia residents | $107 per credit |
| Tuition, out of state | $214 per credit (includes South Carolina students from non-bordering counties) |
| Tuition, international | $428 per credit |
| Mandatory fees | $536 per term (registration, technology, instructional, activity, safety, parking and other fees) |
| Example: 12 credits, Georgia resident | $1,284 tuition + $536 fees = $1,820 per term |
| Program extras | $65 supply fee per term (barbering, cosmetology, culinary, welding, biology lab); $6 liability insurance per term (health, barbering, cosmetology, ECCE); $370 program fee per term for cardiovascular, echocardiography and vascular instead of the $50 standard fee; $60 a term at the Georgia Cyber Center |
| HOPE Grant / Zell Miller | $107 per credit at TCSG colleges for FY2027, the same as tuition |
For eligible Georgia residents, the HOPE Grant or Zell Miller award pays $107 a credit in FY2027, according to the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which matches tuition. Fees, supply charges, books and tools are not covered by that amount. For a 54-credit diploma such as welding, tuition is $5,778 at the in-state rate. Federal data put 2024-25 tuition and fees at $4,282 a year in state, and Niche shows a net price of $10,812 a year.
Augusta Tech takes part in federal student aid (OPEID 00559900). Piedmont Augusta set up a $1 million endowment in 2023 to help with Associate Degree Nursing costs. Veterans and service members can use GI Bill chapters 30, 31, 33, 35 and 1606 and Tuition Assistance from every branch, and military spouses can use MyCAA awards of up to $4,000. The college has a Military Service Center and a Military Success Center with peer support and tutoring, and says it holds a “Military Friendly” designation.
Admissions and start dates
General admission is open, but diploma and degree programs such as nursing and air conditioning require a high school diploma or GED. The nursing programs are selective and require entrance testing and an information session, and clinical programs require background checks, drug screens and immunizations. Many programs admit once a year: Dental Assisting and Radiologic Technology in spring; Sonography, Respiratory Care, Surgical Technology, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Cardiovascular Technology in fall; Medical Assisting and Aviation Maintenance in summer.
Evening options include Air Conditioning Technology (also midday), the NCCER and Electrical Systems programs, the GMAW welding certificate, cosmetology at the main campus in fall, Medical Coding, the Nurse Aide program and Certified Construction Worker certificate at Thomson, and an eight-term evening track for Computer Programming. Aviation Maintenance accepts students from age 16.
Accreditation and results
Augusta Tech is accredited by SACSCOC (the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) to award associate degrees. It was first accredited in 1988, reaffirmed in 2024 for ten years, and is next reviewed in 2034; the commission’s list shows no public sanction. Program accreditors include ACEN (nursing), CAAHEP (cardiovascular technology, sonography, medical assisting and surgical technology), CODA, CAHIIM, ACOTE, ASHP, JRCERT, CoARC, the ASE Education Foundation and ABET. Aviation maintenance is approved by the FAA under Part 147, and the nursing programs by the Georgia Board of Nursing.
| Measure | Result | Cohort and source |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-PN, first-time | 45 of 54 passed (83.33%) | 2025, Georgia Board of Nursing; 26 of 27 (96.3%) in 2024 |
| NCLEX-RN, first-time (ADN) | 106 of 131 passed; the college reports 82.67% | 2025, Georgia Board of Nursing (counts) and the college’s ADN page (rate) |
| Graduation within 150% of normal time | 31%, plus 9% who transferred out | First-time, full-time students who started in fall 2021 (IPEDS) |
| Retention | 57% of full-time and 38% of part-time students | IPEDS |
| Placement, as the college defines it | 99.35% placed; 83.24% in their field | AY2024 graduates, tracked to 15 September after the graduation year; counts jobs, military service and further study (college data) |
| Medical Assisting credential exam | 82.14% average | 2020–2024, program page |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | 84% completion; 96% placed within six months | Three-year averages, 2024 program report |
The two 2025 NCLEX-RN figures differ: the Georgia Board of Nursing’s report counts 106 passes among 131 first-time candidates, while the college gives 82.67%. The college’s own ADN pass rates were 100% in 2022 and 96% in 2023, against a target of 90%. The placement figure includes military service and further study, so it is not a job-placement rate. We found no published FAA A&P, DANB, CST or PTCB pass rates.
What changed since 2023
- January 2023: the School of Health Sciences moved more than 23 health programs from the main campus to a wing of Piedmont Augusta’s Summerville hospital.
- 2024: SACSCOC reaffirmed the college’s accreditation through 2034; Mechanical Engineering Technology gained ABET accreditation in August.
- 2025–2026: the president who had led the college since 2020 left in early 2025 to lead Savannah State University; after an interim year, a new president took office on 2 January 2026.
- April 2026: a $6.8 million federal EDA grant was awarded to complete the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute at 1122 Walton Way in Augusta, announced in 2023 for automotive, EV and hybrid, diesel and collision training. It had not opened as of the 2026-27 catalog.
- July 2026: ground was broken on a commercial driver training range at the Thomson campus; the Commercial Driving Class A certificate is listed as coming in Spring 2027.
- 2026-27 catalog: pharmacy technology is now two certificates (Basic and Advanced) instead of a diploma.
Before you enroll
- Nearly all health programs, including the only ADN, are at Summerville, not the main campus. Most admit once a year, and the nursing programs are selective, so missing one deadline can mean waiting a year.
- ADN pass rates on the NCLEX-RN have fallen from 100% in 2022 to 82.67% in 2025 (college figure), below the college’s own 90% target.
- HOPE covers tuition only. Expect $536 in fees every term plus program supply fees, books and tools; welding, cosmetology, barbering and culinary students pay an extra $65 a term.
- The college does not say whether students living outside Georgia can enroll in its online programs. Ask before applying from another state.
- Some plans are not running yet: CDL training starts in Spring 2027 at the earliest, the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute is not open, and the student housing announced since 2023 has no opening date.
Housing and career help
There is no college housing. On-campus housing with 200 to 300 beds has been announced since 2023, without an opening date. Career preparation is built into many programs: Medical Assisting includes an 8-credit externship, and the college arranges clinical work in every Summerville program. The college tracks where graduates go through 15 September after they finish (see the results table). Its Economic Development division runs non-credit and customized training.
What students say on Niche
On Niche, Augusta Tech has 3.93 out of 5 from 297 reviews and an overall grade of B- (checked 7 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise instructors they describe as knowledgeable, approachable and committed to their success, hands-on, career-focused training, low tuition compared with four-year schools, and online classes that fit around work. The most common complaints are financial aid and admissions offices that are hard to reach by phone, poor communication from administrators, online classes that are not interactive enough, and parking at busy times. From the dates we could see, reviews have arrived steadily, with recent ones posted days before our check and no sign of a burst; like all Niche reviews, they come from students who chose to post.
Sources
Checked October 2026: 2026-27 catalog: locations · 2026-27 term fee schedule · Accreditation and licensure · Student achievement data · Georgia Board of Nursing RN NCLEX results 2022–2025 · PN NCLEX results 2022–2025 · College Navigator · GSFC FY2027 award amounts
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Associate Degree Nursing (ADN, RN; Summerville only)
- LPN to RN Transition to Professional Nursing
- Practical Nursing (LPN)
- Nurse Aide Accelerated
Health Sciences
- Medical Assisting
- Dental Assisting (main campus)
- Basic Pharmacy Technology
- Advanced Pharmacy Technology
- Radiologic Technology
- MRI Specialist
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Echocardiography
- Vascular Technology
- Cardiovascular Technology
- Respiratory Care
- Surgical Technology
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician (Basic)
- Health Information Management Technology (online)
- Medical Coding
- Medical Office Support Specialist
- Physicians Practice Management
- Allied Health Professions (completion degree for MA, pharmacy tech or PN graduates)
Air Conditioning, Electrical and Manufacturing
- Air Conditioning Technology
- Air Conditioning Electrical Technician
- Air Conditioning Technician Assistant
- NCCER Electrical Systems Construction and Maintenance (diploma and AAS)
- Electrical Systems Technology
- Electrical Contracting Technician
- Electrical Control Systems
- Residential Wiring Technician
- Commercial Wiring
- Photovoltaic Systems Installation and Repair Technician
- Mechatronics Technology
- Industrial Mechanical Systems
- Water Quality and Wastewater Quality Technician
Welding and Construction
- Welding and Joining Technology
- Basic and Advanced SMAW
- Gas Metal Arc Welder (GMAW, evenings)
- Advanced Pipe Welding
- Certified Construction Worker
- NCCER Carpentry Fundamentals
- NCCER Advanced Carpentry
- Industrial Construction I
Automotive, Aviation and Driving
- Automotive Technology
- Light Duty Diesel and other automotive certificates
- Aviation Maintenance Technology (AAS and diploma)
- AMT, Airframe and Powerplant certificates
- Commercial Driving Class A (coming Spring 2027)
Engineering Technology and Drafting
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Nuclear Engineering Technology
- Chemical Technology
- Automation Technology
- Architectural and Engineering Drafting Technology
Public Safety and Law
- Emergency Medical Responder
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
- Fire and Emergency Services
- Firefighter I and II
- Basic Law Enforcement
- Police Studies
- Criminal Justice Technology
- Criminal Justice Specialist
- Paralegal Studies
- Legal Studies
- Legal Studies Fundamentals
Cosmetology and Barbering
- Master Cosmetology
- Hair Designer
- Salon and Spa Support Specialist
- Master Barber
- Barber II
- Barbering for Cosmetologists
Culinary
- Culinary Arts (AAS and diploma)
- Catering Specialist
- Prep Cook
- Food Production Worker I
Agriculture, Horticulture and Golf
- Horticulture
- Landscape Specialist
- Sustainable Urban Agriculture Technician
- Golf Course Management
- Golf Course Technician
- Golf Turf and Landscape Specialist
Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS and diploma)
- ECCE Basics
- Child Development Specialist
Design, Media and Film
- Design and Media Production Technology
- Graphic Design and Prepress Technician
- Photographer
- Motion Graphics
- Digital Illustration
- Advertising Layout
- Animated Short Film
- Specialty Printing
- GFA Film and Television Production
Business
- Accounting
- Computerized Accounting
- Payroll Accounting
- Tax Preparation
- Banking and Finance
- Business Administration (AS, for transfer)
- Business Management
- Supervisor/Management Specialist
- Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
- Project Management Assistant
- Business Technology
- Administrative Support Assistant
- Executive Administrative Assistant
- HR Administrative Assistant
- Assistant Office Manager
- Microsoft Office Applications Professional
- Business Healthcare Technology
- Healthcare Billing and Reimbursement Assistant
- Healthcare Office Assistant
Computers and Cybersecurity
- Computer Programming
- C++, C#, Java and PHP programming certificates
- Junior Web Developer
- Cybersecurity (Georgia Cyber Center)
- Cybersecurity Basics
- Cyber Crime Specialist
- CompTIA A+
- Accounting Cybersecurity
- Networking Specialist
- Cisco Network Specialist
- Computer Support Specialist
- Help Desk
- PC Repair and Network Technician
- Cloud Computing and Solutions
- Data Analytics with AI Integration
Campus Locations
Augusta, GA (Main Campus) 3200 Augusta Tech Dr, Augusta, GA 30906
Augusta (Georgia Cyber Center), GA 100 Grace Hopper Ln, Augusta, GA 30901
Augusta (Summerville), GA 2258 Wrightsboro Rd, Augusta, GA 30904
Augusta (Grovetown), GA 3500 John Huffman Way, Grovetown, GA 30813
Thomson, GA 3134 West Bypass Road, Thomson, GA 30824
Thomson (Aviation Center), GA 476 John T Lane Rd, Thomson, GA 30824
Waynesboro, GA 216 Hwy 24 S, Waynesboro, GA 30830