Institution Details

Georgia Perimeter College

Georgia Perimeter College provides a convenient and affordable non-residential, two-year program at six locations in the metro Atlanta area.

Through credit and non-credit programs, Georgia Perimeter College's realm of influence touches the lives of more than 35,000 Georgians each year. Typical of the more than 20,000 students enrolled in credit programs are workers seeking to upgrade job skills or recent high-school graduates intending to complete two years at Georgia Perimeter College before transfering elsewhere. Their average age is 25.1 years. The college serves a distinctively diverse student population with students from all over the nation and 123 foreign countries. Women are in the majority.

The curriculum specializes in liberal arts and professional preparation. Georgia Perimeter College pioneered personalized approaches to instruction and community-related curricula and activities. Students may enroll in one of a wide variety of associate degree programs including business administration, computer information systems, dental hygiene, journalism, political science and teacher education. Also offered are cooperative degree programs with DeKalb Technical and Gwinnett Technical colleges.

Students find opportunities for service, fellowship and learning outside the classroom through honor societies, student publications, theater and musical performance groups. Students compete in intercollegiate men's basketball, baseball, soccer and tennis, and women's basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Intramural sports offer additional athletic outlets.

With six locations in Alpharetta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody, Lawrenceville and Rockdale, Georgia Perimeter College plays a crucial role in its various communities as a center for visual and performing arts. Many cultural and educational programs and facilities are extended to the public.

Founded by the citizens of DeKalb County and the DeKalb Board of Education under the Junior College Act of 1958, Georgia Perimeter College opened in 1964 under the name DeKalb College. It was the only public junior college in the state supported and controlled by a local board of education. The institution became a part of the University System of Georgia in 1986 and was renamed Georgia Perimeter College in 1996.