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Covenant College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Lookout Mountain, GA · 939 students

The verdict

Covenant College charges a net price of $26,265/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $105,060. Graduates earn a median $50,412 ten years after entry, $2,052/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 51.2 years — a 20-year net return of -$64,020, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Covenant College's 51.2-year payback ranks #1,192 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 7% of them, and #21 of 100 in Georgia.

Better ROI than 7% of US colleges#1,192 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,265
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$50,412
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
51.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
87%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Covenant College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,265/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$105,060our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$50,412Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$2,052/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$22,500Scorecard, 2026
Payback51.2 yrsour math
20-year net return-$64,020our math

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

The arithmetic, on Covenant College's own numbers. Net price $26,265 × 4 years = $105,060 total. Median earnings $50,412 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,052 a year of premium. $105,060 ÷ $2,052 = 51.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$64,020. 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 Covenant College students graduate with?

A median $22,500 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $50,412 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Covenant College students graduate?

71% finish their degree. Spread the $105,060 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $147,972 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Covenant College expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?

Its $26,265 net price runs $10,590 above the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, or $42,360 more across the full degree.

Covenant College: frequently asked questions

Is Covenant College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Covenant College charges $26,265/yr after aid ($105,060 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $50,412 ten years out — $2,052/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 51.2 years and returns -$64,020 net over 20 years, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone.
How long does a Covenant College degree take to pay off?
About 51.2 years. We divide the $105,060 four-year net cost by the $2,052/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Covenant College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,265/yr — about $105,060 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Covenant College compare to other Georgia colleges?
It ranks #21 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by payback. Its $50,412 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,265 net price is above the national median of $16,902.