Fort Valley State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Fort Valley State University charges a net price of $10,338/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $41,352. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,666, 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, Fort Valley State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #60 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) | $10,338/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $41,352 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,666 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,694/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $31,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$275,232 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Fort Valley State University's own numbers. Net price $10,338 × 4 years = $41,352 total. Median earnings $36,666 fall $11,694 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 $41,352 bill in about 4.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Fort Valley State University students graduate with?
A median $31,000 in federal loans among completers, or 85% of the $36,666 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Fort Valley State University students graduate?
41% finish their degree — 59% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $41,352 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $100,859 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Fort Valley State University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $10,338 net price runs $5,337 below the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, and $21,348 less across the full degree.