Oglethorpe University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Oglethorpe University charges a net price of $19,509/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $78,036. Graduates earn a median $55,232 ten years after entry, $6,872/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.4 years — a 20-year net return of $59,404, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Oglethorpe University's 11.4-year payback ranks #845 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 34% of them, and #9 of 100 in Georgia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,509/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $78,036 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,232 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $6,872/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 11.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $59,404 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Oglethorpe University's own numbers. Net price $19,509 × 4 years = $78,036 total. Median earnings $55,232 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,872 a year of premium. $78,036 ÷ $6,872 = 11.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $59,404. 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 Oglethorpe University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $55,232 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Oglethorpe University students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $78,036 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $144,511 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Oglethorpe University expensive compared with other Georgia colleges?
Its $19,509 net price runs $3,834 above the $15,675 median across the 100 Georgia colleges we profile, or $15,336 more across the full degree.