Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tifton, Georgia · Public · 75.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 20/100 · Poor Value
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a public regional in Tifton, Georgia with a 20 overall ROI score, placing it in the Poor Value tier despite an in-state sticker tuition of just $3,268. The tension at the institutional level is that the school's low cost ($6,842 net price, $27,368 four-year total) is undermined by weak earnings and weak completion. Median earnings ten years out are $34,996 and six-year earnings $29,100, which generates an earnings premium of essentially zero against the high-school baseline, driving the 999-year payback flag (meaning earnings never recoup cost in the model). Completion sits at 36.2 percent. Median debt is $16,750 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.576. Repayment rates are weak too, with only 44 percent making progress at five years. The headline misses an important detail: ABAC's program-level data shows several solid pathways including Nursing (B+), Forestry (C+), and Agricultural Business (C+). The institutional score reflects students who do not graduate or who finish in low-paying tracks; the right program at ABAC remains a defensible value.
The data raises concerns about Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score20/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate36.1% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $3,268/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,588/yr |
| Average net price | $6,842/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $27,368 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,996 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $178 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 36.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,208 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is $3,268/year ($10,588/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $6,842/year, or roughly $27,368 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $4,323/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $11,026/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $16,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $178 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $34,996 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.58 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,323 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,299 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,824 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,489 |
| $110,001+ | $11,026 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $4,323 in net price, the strongest value in the matrix. With a $48,000 four-year cost ceiling for a Pell-eligible student who completes in four years, the math works on paper even at $34,996 median earnings. The trap is the 36.2 percent completion rate: a low-income student who drops out with $16,750 in debt and no degree is the worst-case outcome here.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $4,299 (the $30,001 to $48,000 bracket) and $6,824 (the $48,001 to $75,000 bracket). These prices keep total four-year cost between $17,000 and $27,000, comfortably below most alternatives. The same caveat about completion applies, but the absolute debt risk is contained.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $75,000 pay $10,489 in the $75,001 to $110,000 bracket and $11,026 above $110,000. The progression is normal (not inverted), reflecting reduced need-based aid. Even at the top end, four-year cost is roughly $44,000, which remains a defensible bet for an in-state student targeting Nursing or Ag Business. For higher-income students with stronger academic profiles, a flagship like UGA may deliver better outcomes for similar money.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other | $54,179 | C+ |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $47,519 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $98,328 | B+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $50,429 | C+ |
| Biology | $46,194 | D |
| Forestry | $57,678 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $48,677 | C |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $52,757 | C |
| Business Information Systems | $56,001 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the clearest win at ABAC: 45 graduates per year, B+ ROI grade, first-year median earnings of $76,557 climbing to $98,328 by year four, and $26,298 in median debt. The 0.344 debt-to-earnings ratio is healthy. This is a high-demand credential in rural Georgia and across the Southeast, and ABAC's low in-state cost makes the program one of the best nursing-school values in the state.
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
The largest cohort at ABAC with 70 graduates, earning C+ ROI. Median first-year earnings of $42,107 rise to $54,179 by year four against $23,042 in debt. The 0.547 debt-to-earnings ratio is workable. Career paths run into farm operations, ag retail, livestock and crop management, and pre-vet pathways. ABAC's location and ag focus make this a coherent fit, though graduates targeting higher earnings should consider continuing to a UGA-tier program.
Agricultural Business and Management
Ag Business produces 59 graduates with a C+ grade. First-year earnings of $47,519 against $21,500 in median debt give a 0.452 debt-to-earnings ratio, the second-best in the program list. Strong pathway into ag commodity trading, farm management, ag lending, and family-business succession roles. The combination of vocational training and reasonable debt makes this one of the more defensible bets at ABAC.
Forestry
Forestry posts 35 graduates with a C+ grade. First-year earnings of $40,065 grow to $57,678 by year four with $20,282 in debt and a 0.506 debt-to-earnings ratio. The Southeast has substantial forest-products industry demand. Public-sector pathways into USFS, Georgia DNR, and timber-company technical roles support stable, if not exceptional, earnings progression.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Ed shows 41 graduates with C+ ROI, $50,429 first-year earnings, and $26,250 in median debt. The 0.521 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects Georgia's modest teacher pay scales. Pathway is clear: Georgia public-school teaching positions. The debt load is heavier than other ABAC programs because teacher training tends to extend coursework, but the credential is portable and stable.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 52.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 44.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 48.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 420-520 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-22 |
| Enrollment | 3,208 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,551 |
ABAC admits 75.7 percent of applicants, an accessible profile typical of regional publics. The SAT mid-range is roughly 420 to 520 math and 440 to 560 reading, and ACT mid-range is 17 to 22. These are below the national medians but consistent with the school's mission to serve rural Georgia. A prepared student scoring above the 75th percentile here will find the work approachable; the 36.2 percent completion rate is more about retention than admissions difficulty.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Named peers are Albany State University, College of Coastal Georgia, University of Guam, Cameron University, and Lander University. This is a regional-public cohort with similar admit profiles. Albany State and Lander generally post stronger completion rates (in the 40 to 45 percent range) than ABAC's 36.2 percent. College of Coastal Georgia sits in similar territory, while Cameron University in Oklahoma reports comparable earnings outcomes. ABAC's low cost is its standout advantage in this group; its weakness is completion and the long earnings tail in agriculture and human services.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (this school) | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | 22 | $15,261 | $39,318 |
| Lander University | 22 | $15,363 | $42,396 |
| Cameron University | 20 | $10,912 | $40,118 |
| University of Guam | 20 | $8,598 | $35,946 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Who Thrives Here
ABAC fits a Georgia student aiming for a hands-on agriculture, forestry, nursing, or teacher-education credential at the lowest possible price. Pell rate is 34.7 percent, signaling a meaningful low-income cohort. Enrollment of 3,208 makes it a midsize public. Strong fits are students with clear vocational direction, particularly into Nursing (B+ ROI), Forestry (C+), or Agricultural Business (C+). Poor fits are students drifting into general majors like Biology (D), where the earnings curve does not justify even ABAC's modest debt load.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. With a net cost of $6,842 per year and median graduate earnings of only $34,996 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 36.1% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $16,750 against $34,996 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.