
Dalton State College (Dalton State) is the 24th of Georgia’s 35 units that operate under the University System of Georgia. Chartered in 1963, it was the community’s answer to a long hope that started when Joe Brown University shut down in the late 19th century. Today, Dalton State proudly offers baccalaureate programs in more than a dozen disciplines, including Accounting, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education and Technology Management.
Dalton currently enrolls nearly 6,000 students every year, and has been continuously accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to grant associate degrees since the first accreditation year (1969.) In 1998, its focus shifted to baccalaureate degrees, and it continues to serve the Dalton community in that capacity.
Tuition at Dalton State is an affordable $2,800 per year for in-state students, which is typically supported by financial aid from several sources. Campus activities are plentiful, and primarily focus on sports, fitness and recreation. Students are encouraged to develop their social skills by participating in the many events organized each year.
The college also focuses heavily on civic engagement to develop leadership qualities in its students, and believes that community involvement is innate in everyone with the desire to serve their community and lead people.
Dalton State Housing is provided on a first-come-first-served basis, and students must maintain a course load of no less than 9 credit hours per semester. Summer Bridge Housing is also available under similar terms of occupancy, but at highly reduced rates.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $6,000. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $30 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition estimates are:
- State Residents: $2,400-$2,900
- Out-of-State: $9,000-$10,860
- Charges per unit:
- In-State: $100-$120 per unit
- Out-of-State: $380-$450 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 92% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 88% | $5,338 |
Receiving Student Loans | 18% | $5,843 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, Dalton State College may offer services like:
- Distance learning
- Remedial courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Student employment
- Helping students find work after graduation
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Community colleges offer a variety of career and transfer options for students. The following table shows the graduation and transfer-out rates for this school, versus those community colleges in Georgia, which can be valuable information for determining which school to attend.
DSC | Whitfield County | Georgia | |
---|---|---|---|
Graduation Rate | 14.3% | - | 15.2% |
Transfer-out Rate | 12.1% | - | 21.5% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1970)
- Visit our Georgia nursing schools page to see all eighty-two offered through the state
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 2014)
- Visit our Georgia nursing schools page to see all eighty-two offered through the state
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1998)
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (since 2010)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Dalton State College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B)
- Accounting (B)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services (A)
- Information Systems (B)
- Small Business Management (C)
- Operations Management (B)
- Data Entry Technology (C)
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services (C)
Education
Engineering Technology
English Language and Literature
- English (B)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A, B)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (C)
- Medical Assistant (C)
- Radiologic Technology (A)
- Respiratory Therapy Technician (A)
- Medical Laboratory Assistance (A)
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (A)
- Healthcare Administration
- Radiology Technician
History
- History (B)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies (A, B)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
Mechanic and Repair Technology
- Electrical Equipment Installation and Repair (C)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (B)
Security and Protective Services
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Dalton State College.
- Georgia Highlands College in Rome, GA (44 miles away)
- Atlanta Metropolitan College in Atlanta, GA (81 miles away)
- Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, TN (84 miles away)
- Georgia Perimeter College in Decatur, GA (86 miles away)
- Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, AL (139 miles away)