Georgia Southern University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Georgia Southern University charges a net price of $15,267/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $61,068. Graduates earn a median $53,236 ten years after entry, $4,876/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 12.5 years — a 20-year net return of $36,452, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Georgia Southern University's 12.5-year payback ranks #886 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 31% of them, and #11 of 100 in Georgia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,267/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $61,068 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,236 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,876/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 12.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $36,452 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Georgia Southern University's own numbers. Net price $15,267 × 4 years = $61,068 total. Median earnings $53,236 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,876 a year of premium. $61,068 ÷ $4,876 = 12.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $36,452. 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 Southern University students graduate with?
A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $53,236 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Georgia Southern University students graduate?
55% finish their degree — 45% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $61,068 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $111,033 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Georgia Southern University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $15,267 net price runs $408 below the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, and $1,632 less across the full degree.