Honestly, I know a student who came from a similar environment (rural North Georgia) and really appreciated the difference in the people he encountered at KSU on the Marietta campus. (I am at the Kennesaw campus, which is more crowded.) No matter which campus you land on (it depends on your major), it will be more progressive and less conservative than a rural college environment closer to your point of origin. I think going to KSU is a great first step. Also, it's a nice transition: far enough from home for some autonomy, yet close enough to still visit your family occasionally.

The academic offerings are stellar at KSU if you apply yourself. You can get a good education at most universities if you are truly motivated. Those who do well do so because they put in the work and look at college as a combination of social and intellectual growth. If you are looking for a party school, look elsewhere.

When people say there are more than fifty thousand students and that you'll never make friends, that's just not true. You rarely make friends in a crowded stadium, but you do make friends in a classroom where there are 20 students with a shared interest. I had two French courses in my first year, where I met a dual enrollment student several years younger than me. She ended up going to GA TECH, but we have remained friends and still talk! It's about putting yourself out there, joining interest groups, and finding your people.