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Albany State University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Albany, GA · 5,956 students

The verdict

Albany State University charges a net price of $11,898/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $47,592. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,674, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Albany State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #44 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$11,898
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$40,674
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Albany State University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$11,898/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$47,592our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$40,674Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline-$7,686/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,024Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return-$201,312our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Albany State University's own numbers. Net price $11,898 × 4 years = $47,592 total. Median earnings $40,674 fall $7,686 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $47,592 bill in about 4.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.

How much debt do Albany State University students graduate with?

A median $25,024 in federal loans among completers, or 62% of the $40,674 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Albany State University students graduate?

31% finish their degree — 69% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $47,592 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $153,523 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Albany State University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?

Its $11,898 net price runs $3,777 below the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, and $15,108 less across the full degree.

Albany State University: frequently asked questions

Is Albany State University worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $40,674, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Albany State University degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Albany State University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $11,898/yr — about $47,592 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Albany State University compare to other Georgia colleges?
It ranks #44 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by payback. Its $40,674 median earnings trail the national median of $43,549, and its $11,898 net price is below the national median of $16,902.