Piedmont University

Piedmont University is a private comprehensive liberal arts institution located in the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Demorest, Georgia, with a secondary campus in the heart of Athens. Founded in 1897, the university is dedicated to providing a personalized and transformative educational experience, emphasizing a low student-to-faculty ratio (currently 10:1) and small class sizes. Piedmont serves a diverse student body of approximately 2,500 students through its four specialized colleges—Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Nursing and Health Sciences—offering a wide array of career-oriented majors alongside a robust liberal arts foundation.

The university was established in 1897 as the J.S. Green Collegiate Institute, founded by residents of Habersham County who sought to bring higher education to the rural "wilderness" of Northeast Georgia. In 1901, the institution came under the sponsorship of the American Mission Board of the Congregational Churches, leading to a name change to Piedmont College in 1902 to reflect its geographic region. For much of the early 20th century, the college operated a farm that provided both food for the campus and vocational opportunities for students to earn their tuition. After decades of steady growth and the addition of multiple graduate programs, the institution officially transitioned to Piedmont University in 2021, marking its evolution into a comprehensive regional leader in education.

Piedmont University stands as a beacon of academic excellence and community resilience in North Georgia. By blending its historic Congregational heritage with modern, high-demand programs in nursing, forensics, and film production, the university successfully bridges the gap between traditional liberal arts and professional success. Its commitment to the "individual student" over large-scale anonymity ensures that its graduates emerge as compassionate leaders and critical thinkers. For those seeking a supportive, safe, and academically rigorous environment nestled in the Appalachian foothills, Piedmont remains a premier destination for higher learning.