Kennesaw State University vs Georgia State University: which has better ROI?
Kennesaw State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $60,192 in 6.5 years versus not at all at Georgia State University, on median earnings of $57,552 vs $47,384 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kennesaw State University | Georgia State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,048 | $15,931 |
| Total net cost | $60,192 | $63,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,552 | $47,384 |
| Median debt | $23,833 | $20,903 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $123,648 | -$83,244 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kennesaw State University or Georgia State University?
Kennesaw State University, at $15,048 a year after aid versus $15,931 — a gap of $883 a year, or $3,532 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kennesaw State University or Georgia State University graduates earn more?
Kennesaw State University graduates report a median $57,552 ten years after entry, $10,168 more than the $47,384 at Georgia 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, Kennesaw State University or Georgia State University?
Georgia State University: its completers carry a median $20,903 in federal loans versus $23,833 at Kennesaw State University, a difference of $2,930. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Georgia State University, against 52% at Kennesaw State University. 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.