Dalton State opened in 1967 as a hometown junior college for the "Carpet Capital of the World." Whitfield County voters had approved the bond issue to build it by a margin of 26 to 1. Today it is a four-year state college on a wooded hillside above I-75. Its Roadrunners have won two NAIA national titles, and Washington Monthly ranked it #8 among the nation's bachelor's colleges in 2025.
About this site
Dalton State College is a college & university in Dalton, Whitfield County. It is one of 106 historic sites cataloged in Whitfield County on Georgia Roam.
The site sits at 34.7745, -85.0032 near Dalton. The nearest cataloged historic site is Dug Gap (historical marker), about 1.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include West Hill Cemetery, Whitfield Memorial Gardens, and Old Presbyterian Cemetery.
This record is drawn from Georgia Roam. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
What makes Dalton State College different
Whitfield County voters approved the bond issue to build the college by a margin of 26 to 1. daltonstate.edu
It opened in September 1967 with 524 students as the University System of Georgia's 24th institution. daltonstate.edu
The Roadrunner mascot was chosen in 1967 by the first basketball coach, Melvyn Ottinger, after the cartoon character. When Warner Bros. objected to 'Road Runner,' the college ran the two words together. en.wikipedia.org
In only their second NAIA season, the Roadrunners won the 2015 NAIA men's basketball national championship with a 32–4 record. daltonstate.edu
Men's soccer, first played in 2015, won the 2024 NAIA national championship on penalty kicks. en.wikipedia.org
The Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia, founded in 2008 inside the campus library, holds tens of thousands of photographs and documents on the region's history, including the carpet and textile industry. bandyheritagecenter.org
In 2025 Dalton State became the first college in Georgia to earn the Seal of Excelencia for serving Latino students. youtube.com
The Board of Regents chartered Dalton Junior College in 1963, and Whitfield County voters backed a bond issue to build it by 26 to 1. Construction began on 136 acres beside I-75, with five original buildings: Westcott Hall, Sequoya Hall, the Pope Student Center, Bandy Gymnasium and a maintenance building. The college opened in September 1967 with 524 students, the 24th institution in the University System of Georgia. Its first president was Arthur M. Gignilliat. Early on the college added technical programs and absorbed the local School of Health Occupations, and those health programs remain one of its strengths.
The word "Junior" was dropped in 1987. In 1998 the regents approved bachelor's degrees, and the school became Dalton State College. The Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia opened in 2008 to preserve the region's history. A bell tower named for President James A. Burran became the centerpiece of a redesigned quad. Students then voted to bring back intercollegiate athletics after a 35-year absence. The revived Roadrunners joined the NAIA and won the 2015 national basketball title in only their second NAIA season, then the 2024 men's soccer title.
Dalton State now enrolls about 5,000 students, most of them from northwest Georgia. It also runs a Mountain Campus in Ellijay. In 2025 it became the first college in Georgia to earn the national Seal of Excelencia for serving Latino students. John Fuchko III has been president since 2023.
#8 among bachelor's colleges nationally — Washington Monthly, 2025source
#33 in 'Best Colleges for Your Tuition and Tax Dollars' – Southeast (#2 in the region for affordability) — Washington Monthly, 2026source
Majors & programs
Dalton State combines bachelor's degrees in business, education, the sciences and liberal arts with a large set of health programs that go back to its early technical mission. The list below shows the bachelor's and associate degrees in the college's program finder in September 2026, leaving out minors, concentrations and certificates. Check the official list for the latest.
Known for
Nursing (ASN, BSN, RN-BSN)
Nursing has grown quickly under the college's Vision 2050 plan and is taught in the renovated Health Professions Building.
Known for
Business (Wright School of Business)
AACSB-accredited since 2010, with day and evening BBA options in accounting, management and more.
Known for
Social Work (BSW)
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Known for
Respiratory Therapy and Radiologic Technology
Hands-on health programs rooted in the local health-occupations school the college absorbed in its early years.
Known for
Biology and Chemistry
Taught in Peeples Hall, a 58,000-square-foot science building with modern biology and chemistry labs.
All degree programs at Dalton State College (31)
Business
Accounting · BBA
Finance and Applied Economics · BBA
Management · BBA
Management Information Systems · BBA
Marketing · BBA
Information Technology · BAS
Engineering Technology · BAS
Health professions
Nursing · BSN
Nursing (RN-BSN, online) · BSN
Respiratory Therapy (online) · BS
Health & Wellness · BS
Organizational Leadership – Health Care Administration (online) · BS
Nursing (including LPN/Paramedic bridge) · ASN
Radiologic Technology · AAS
Respiratory Therapy · AAS
Medical Laboratory Technology · AAS
Education
Elementary Education · BSEd
Science, technology and math
Biology · BS
Chemistry · BS
Mathematics (including actuarial science) · BS
Environmental & Sustainability Studies · BS
Liberal arts and social sciences
Communication · BA
English · BA
History · BA
Interdisciplinary Studies · BA
Psychology · BS
Criminal Justice (in person or online) · BS
Social Work · BSW
Organizational Leadership – Public Service (online) · BS
Associate degrees and transfer pathways
Criminal Justice · AS
General Studies (with pathways in film, theatre, business, computer science, elementary education, nursing, pre-engineering and respiratory therapy) · AA/AS
Men's golfer Sean Elliott won the NAIA individual title and national Golfer of the Year honors; women's golfer Julia McQuilken won the NAIA individual championship daltonstate.edu
Home venues: Bandy Gymnasium · Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center (basketball) · Melvyn Ottinger athletics center
Dalton State men's soccer team reflects on first national championship in program history · Local 3 NewsDalton State takes NAIA championship · Kansas City StarDalton State becomes first school in Georgia to earn seal for serving Latino students · Local 3 NewsDalton State Roadrunners are national basketball champions · chattanooga times free press
Yes. It opened as Dalton Junior College in 1967 and has offered bachelor's degrees since becoming Dalton State College in 1998. It also still offers associate degrees.
What division is Dalton State?
The Roadrunners compete in the NAIA as members of the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Has Dalton State won a national championship?
Yes, two. The men's basketball team won the 2015 NAIA national title and men's soccer won the 2024 NAIA championship.
How many students go to Dalton State?
5,135 in Fall 2024, all undergraduates, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Why is Dalton State's mascot the Roadrunner?
Coach Melvyn Ottinger picked it in 1967, inspired by the Warner Bros. cartoon. After the studio objected to the two-word 'Road Runner,' the college made it one word.
What is Dalton State known for?
Affordable bachelor's degrees close to home, nursing and health programs, and a strong national ranking: Washington Monthly placed it #8 among bachelor's colleges in 2025. Its Bandy Heritage Center also preserves the history of northwest Georgia and its carpet industry.
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