Complete Guide to Planning a Georgia Campus Tour

So you’re planning a Georgia college tour. You have 26 excellent options to choose from, with schools that range from big (like the University of Georgia, which has around 38,000 students) to small (like Wesleyan College, with fewer than 750 students). But if you’re going to make the most of your time in the Peach State, you’ll need to plan carefully.

That’s where we come in. We know college visits well (we’ve served so many!) and have put together this guide to help you make the most of your trip. So whether you’re headed to Atlanta, Athens, or another one of Georgia’s great cities, read on for our top tips on what to do and see while you’re there. And if you have questions, just call the Busrental.net team!

Before You Go

Before you leave home, there are a few things you’ll need to do to prepare for your Georgia college tour. First and foremost, you’ll need to decide when you want to go. Because Georgia is so large and home to so many schools, we recommend planning your trip by region. If you’re interested in schools in or near Atlanta, for example, you’ll want to plan a separate visit for schools in Savannah. If you’re interested in schools in the southern part of the state, you might want to plan a separate visit for schools near Valdosta.

Once you’ve decided which region of Georgia you’d like to visit, it’s time to schedule your college tours. We recommend planning on visiting three to five schools per day. If you’re interested in more than five schools in one area, try to plan multiple visits. This will help ensure that you have enough time to see each campus in full. Keep in mind that many colleges have limited tour availability during the summer and around holidays, so you’ll want to schedule your tours at least a month in advance.

When you’re scheduling your college tours, be sure to check for any special events that may be taking place on campus during your visit. Many colleges and universities offer special visit days for prospective students, as well as days when prospective students can sit in on classes or speak with professors. If there’s an event that interests you, be sure to register early—these events can fill up quickly.

Once your tours are scheduled, it’s time to book your accommodations. Many colleges offer discounted rates at local hotels for prospective students and their families, so be sure to ask the admissions office if they have any partnerships with local hotels. If they don’t, sites like Hotels.com and Booking.com are great places to look for deals on hotels.

You’ll also want to book your transportation early. Georgia is a large state, and travel times between cities can be longer than you’d expect. For example, the drive from Atlanta to Athens takes about an hour and 70 minutes. To make the most of your time in Georgia, we recommend flying into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is the busiest airport in the world and offers flights from just about every major city in the U.S.

If you’re traveling with a group of more than a few people, booking flights can be a bit complicated. You’ll need to find the best deals on flights that depart from and arrive at the same airport on the same day, and then make sure everyone’s information is entered correctly. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of booking flights for your Georgia college tour, consider hiring a charter bus rental instead. A bus rental will take care of all of your transportation needs while you’re on the ground in Georgia so that all you have to worry about is making it to the airport on time.

Busrental.net offers charter bus rentals for groups of all sizes. When you call 877-200-4461, we’ll help you find the best bus rental for your group. If you need a minibus rental (which seats up to 35 people) or a full-size charter bus rental (which seats up to 56 people), we’ll match you with the vehicle type that’s best suited for your group. And if you have any special requests (like WiFi or power outlets on your bus), let us know! We’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

Atlanta

As Georgia’s capital and largest city, Atlanta is home to a wide variety of colleges and universities. In fact, it’s home to more than 20 colleges and universities! Whether you’re interested in a large public university or a small private college, Atlanta has something for everyone. And because all of these schools are located within a relatively small area, it’s easy to see multiple campuses in one day.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Address: North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
Phone: 404-894-2000

Georgia Tech is one of the best public universities in the nation and is known for its rigorous academics and top-notch engineering program. The campus is located just north of downtown Atlanta and covers 400 acres. Georgia Tech is also one of the most selective public universities in the country—its acceptance rate is just 21%. If you’re interested in applying to Georgia Tech, we recommend scheduling a campus tour at least a month in advance.

Emory University

Address: 201 Dowman Dr., Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404-727-6123

This private research university is located just east of downtown Atlanta and has around 7,000 undergraduate students. Emory is known for its top-ranked business school, as well as its excellent programs in public health and nursing.

Georgia State University

Address: 33 Gilmer St., Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-413-2000

Georgia State University is located in downtown Atlanta and has around 25,000 undergraduate students. It’s one of the largest universities in Georgia and is known for its strong programs in business and communication. GSU is also one of the most diverse schools in the nation—nearly 60% of its students are Black or Latino.

Agnes Scott College

Address: 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-471-6000

This small women’s college is located just east of downtown Atlanta and has around 1,000 undergraduate students. Agnes Scott is known for its strong programs in the humanities and sciences and has an excellent pre-med program.

Oglethorpe University

Address: 4484 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
Phone: 404-261-5700

This private liberal arts college is located just north of downtown Atlanta and has around 1,300 undergraduate students. Oglethorpe is known for its small class sizes and has a student-to-faculty ratio of just 14:1.

Savannah

Savannah is one of the oldest cities in Georgia and is home to some of the most beautiful architecture on the East Coast. This city is also home to several colleges and universities that are known for their arts programs. If you’re interested in studying art or design, Savannah should be at the top of your list.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah College of Art and Design (or SCAD) is one of the best art schools in the nation and has around 11,000 undergraduate students. The school offers more than 40 majors in areas like animation, fashion design, and graphic design. The campus is located right in downtown Savannah and is spread out over several blocks.

Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University

This public university is located about 20 minutes outside of downtown Savannah on a beautiful 268-acre campus. Armstrong offers more than 100 undergraduate programs across six academic colleges. It’s known for its strong programs in liberal arts and business.

Savannah State University

Savannah State University is located about 20 minutes outside of downtown Savannah and has around 4,000 undergraduate students. It’s one of the largest historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the nation and offers more than 30 undergraduate programs.

Savannah Technical College

Savannah Technical College offers more than 70 programs across six academic schools. The school is known for its excellent nursing program and has an impressive job placement rate—more than 90% of its graduates find jobs within six months of graduation.

Athens

Athens is a college town through and through—the University of Georgia is located right in the heart of downtown and has around 28,000 undergraduate students. In addition to UGA, Athens is home to several other colleges that are known for their strong programs in fields like music and business.

University of Georgia

Address: Administration Building, Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-3000

The University of Georgia is one of the best public universities in the nation and has around 28,000 undergraduate students. The school is known for its excellent programs in business and research. If you’re interested in studying business at a top-ranked public university, UGA should be at the top of your list. The school’s Terry College of Business is one of the best in the nation and is home to more than 6,000 undergraduate students. UGA is also known for its strong programs in the arts and sciences and is home to a large number of students who go on to pursue graduate degrees.

UGA’s campus is spread out over 762 acres and is located in the heart of downtown Athens. The campus consists of a mix of historic and modern buildings and is beautiful year-round. If you’re visiting UGA, be sure to check out the UGA Visitor Center, which offers daily tours of the campus. Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., as well as on select Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.

Piedmont College

Address: 595 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30601
Phone: 706-548-8505

Piedmont College is a private liberal arts college that’s located right in the heart of downtown Athens. The school has around 2,500 undergraduate students and offers more than 50 academic programs across its five academic schools. Piedmont is known for its strong programs in education and business and has a student-to-faculty ratio of just 14:1.

University of North Georgia

Address: 120 East Hunter St., P.O. Box 1358, Athens, GA 30603
Phone: 706-542-3000

The University of North Georgia is a public university that’s located about 20 minutes outside of downtown Athens. The school has around 15,000 undergraduate students and offers more than 100 academic programs across its five academic colleges. UNG is known for its strong programs in nursing and criminal justice and has a large military program—more than 700 of its students are in the Corps of Cadets.

Wesleyan College

Address: 4760 Forsyth Rd., Macon, GA 31210
Phone: 478-477-1110

Wesleyan College is located about an hour and a half south of Athens and is the first women’s college in the world. The school has around 700 undergraduate students and offers more than 30 academic majors. Wesleyan College is known for its small class sizes and has a student-to-faculty ratio of just 8:1.

Augusta

Augusta is located on the eastern edge of Georgia and is home to several colleges that are known for their strong programs in science and technology. The city is also home to one of the best public universities in the nation—Augusta University has around 5,000 undergraduate students and is known for its strong programs in nursing and business.

Augusta University

Address: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904
Phone: 706-737-1632

Augusta University offers more than 100 academic programs across its nine academic colleges. The school is known for its strong programs in nursing and business and has a large number of students who go on to pursue graduate degrees. Augusta University also has a large medical center that’s located on campus.

Paine College

Address: 1235 15th St., Augusta, GA 30901
Phone: 706-821-8200

Paine College is a private liberal arts college that’s located just north of downtown Augusta. The school has around 500 undergraduate students and offers more than 20 academic programs. Paine is known for its strong programs in the humanities and sciences and has a student-to-faculty ratio of just 15:1.

Georgia Military College

Address: 115 Davis Rd., Building 115, Fort Gordon, GA 30905
Phone: 706-793-5636

This public military college has around 8,000 undergraduate students and offers more than 20 academic programs. GMC is known for its large military program—nearly all of its students are in the Corps of Cadets.

Ready to Plan Your Georgia College Tour?

We’re here to help! If you have any questions about charter bus rentals or need help planning your trip, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 877-200-4461. We’re available 24/7 to assist you with all of your Georgia charter bus rental needs.