Albany State University vs Georgia Highlands College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Georgia Highlands College comes closer — median earnings $43,184 against a $13,856 total, vs $40,674 at Albany State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany State University | Georgia Highlands College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,898 | $6,928 |
| Total net cost | $47,592 | $13,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,674 | $43,184 |
| Median debt | $25,024 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,312 | -$117,376 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Albany State University or Georgia Highlands College?
Georgia Highlands College, at $6,928 a year after aid versus $11,898 — a gap of $4,970 a year, or $33,736 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Albany State University or Georgia Highlands College graduates earn more?
Georgia Highlands College graduates report a median $43,184 ten years after entry, $2,510 more than the $40,674 at Albany State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Albany State University or Georgia Highlands College?
Georgia Highlands College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $25,024 at Albany State University, a difference of $13,024. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
31% of students finish at Albany State University, against 21% at Georgia Highlands College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.