Augusta University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Augusta University charges a net price of $13,787/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $55,148. Graduates earn a median $48,472 ten years after entry, $112/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 492.4 years — a 20-year net return of -$52,908, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Augusta University's 492.4-year payback ranks #1,268 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 1% of them, and #25 of 100 in Georgia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,787/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $55,148 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,472 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $112/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 492.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$52,908 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Augusta University's own numbers. Net price $13,787 × 4 years = $55,148 total. Median earnings $48,472 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $112 a year of premium. $55,148 ÷ $112 = 492.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$52,908. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Augusta University students graduate with?
A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $48,472 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Augusta University students graduate?
49% finish their degree — 51% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $55,148 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $112,547 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Augusta University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $13,787 net price runs $1,888 below the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, and $7,552 less across the full degree.