Dalton State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Dalton State College charges a net price of $5,012/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $20,048. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,251, 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.)
On institution-wide earnings, Dalton State College does not clear its cost — it ranks #42 of 100 Georgia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $5,012/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $20,048 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,251 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$8,109/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,937 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$182,228 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Dalton State College's own numbers. Net price $5,012 × 4 years = $20,048 total. Median earnings $40,251 fall $8,109 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 $20,048 bill in about 2.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Dalton State College students graduate with?
A median $12,937 in federal loans among completers, or 32% of the $40,251 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Dalton State College students graduate?
25% finish their degree — 75% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $20,048 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $80,192 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Dalton State College expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $5,012 net price runs $10,663 below the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, and $42,652 less across the full degree.