Union County students earn associate degrees and professional certificates in a broad range of technical fields at North Georgia Technical College in the city of Blairsville, the county seat. A satellite campus of the Technical College System of Georgia, North Georgia Tech focuses on medical, computer and industrial fields, but also offers other programs such as culinary arts, criminal justice and firefighting. Administrators collaborate with local businesses to design programs targeted at opportunities in the regional job market. One such program in customer service, prepares students for positions in the local hospitality industry. Students are encouraged to transfers credits to other institutions and apply them to a bachelor's degree.
Young Harris College, a small, private, liberal arts college roughly eight miles east of Blairsville in the town of Young Harris, has expanded its traditional associate degree program, and now awards bachelor's degrees in a number of disciplines including biology, music, theater, English, communications, history, and business and public policy. A unique bachelor's degree program in outdoor leadership prepares students for careers in educational programs with a nature-based curriculum. Founded in 1886 by a traveling Methodist minister, the college maintains its affiliation with the church, but also welcomes students of all faiths. As of 2011, the student population stood at roughly 800, but administrators hope to double enrollment within the next decade. As part of the effort, Young Harris recently added a new recreation center with a 37-foot rock climbing wall to its list of facilities which also include an observatory, planetarium, theater and art gallery.
Dalton State College is part of Georgia's state university system. Founded in the early 1960s as a junior college, Dalton now offers 14 baccalaureate degree programs in business, science and education, as well as the humanities. Students can also choose from 68 associate degree programs that have been developed to apply toward bachelor's degrees, and 42 certificate programs geared toward career advancement. Known traditionally as a commuter college, many students travel to Dalton from 12 surrounding counties. However, a new housing complex has convinced more students to live on campus. Although the main campus is located in Dalton, 75 miles from Union County, the college also operates a satellite campus in Ellijay, roughly 35 west from Blairsville.
"U.S. News & World Report" ranked North Georgia College and State University 59th among universities in the South. Located in Dahlonega, about 30 miles from Blairsville, North Georgia offers more that 50 academic degree programs and awards undergraduate and graduate degrees. According to 2011 enrollment figures, more than 5,000 undergraduates attend North Georgia, with 31 percent living in housing on the university's main campus. Statistics from the Class of 2009 show 26 percent of North Georgia graduates chose business as their major, while 22 percent earned degrees in education. North Georgia is one of the nation's six military colleges, and the school offers scholarships to qualifying cadets interested in joining the school's ROTC unit, the Boar's Head Brigade.