Georgia College & State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Georgia College & State University charges a net price of $20,686/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,744. Graduates earn a median $58,140 ten years after entry, $9,780/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.5 years — a 20-year net return of $112,856, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Georgia College & State University's 8.5-year payback ranks #715 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 44% of them, and #7 of 100 in Georgia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,686/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $82,744 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,140 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,780/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $112,856 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Georgia College & State University's own numbers. Net price $20,686 × 4 years = $82,744 total. Median earnings $58,140 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,780 a year of premium. $82,744 ÷ $9,780 = 8.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $112,856. 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 Georgia College & State University students graduate with?
A median $22,250 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $58,140 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Georgia College & State University students graduate?
64% finish their degree — 36% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,744 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $129,288 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Georgia College & State University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $20,686 net price runs $5,011 above the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, or $20,044 more across the full degree.