Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia · Private Nonprofit · 62.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Agnes Scott College's ROI score of 45 places it in the Below Average Value tier - a sobering figure given a $50,604 annual tuition. The average net price of $24,754 produces a four-year cost estimate of $99,016. Six-year average earnings of $33,200 and ten-year median earnings of $56,274 suggest gradual career growth, likely aided by graduate school attendance. The payback period of 11.2 years is long. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.806 is high, reflecting median debt of $26,749 against relatively modest early-career wages. The repayment rate at year three is just 66.4%, signaling financial stress for a meaningful share of borrowers. The completion rate of 70.7% is a genuine institutional strength. Pell Grant recipients represent 38.5% of the student body, indicating the college serves a substantial share of high-need students. Agnes Scott's Atlanta location and historically strong alumnae network may generate outcomes not fully captured by six-year earnings data, particularly for graduates who pursue advanced degrees.
Agnes Scott College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $50,604/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,604/yr |
| Average net price | $24,754/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $99,016 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,274 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,749 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $284 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 836 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $50,604/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,754/year, or roughly $99,016 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $21,467/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,054/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,749, which works out to about $284 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,200) and comes to 0.81, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $21,467 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,956 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,697 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,194 |
| $110,001+ | $30,054 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students with family incomes below $30,000 pay a net price of $21,467 per year - about $86,000 over four years. Against average six-year earnings of $33,200, this is a difficult financial proposition. Low-income students who attend Agnes Scott need exceptional merit or graduate school trajectories that justify the investment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001 - $75,000) face net prices of $21,956 - $23,697. The relatively narrow range reflects Agnes Scott's aid structure. Families paying around $22,000 - $24,000 per year at an institution with a 66.4% repayment rate face meaningful financial risk.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $25,194 - $30,054. For families who can finance attendance without heavy borrowing, Agnes Scott's alumnae network, Atlanta proximity, and completion rate provide real intangible value. The financial case strengthens considerably when debt is minimized.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Agnes Scott College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health | $63,621 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $32,105 | - |
| International Relations | $62,605 | - |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $40,587 | C |
| Psychology | $24,277 | F |
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.
Public Health
Public Health is the highest-earning tracked program with four-year earnings of $63,621 and 19 graduates. No debt data is available, limiting a full grade assessment. The earnings trajectory suggests students pursue graduate work in public health - MPH programs are common, and the Atlanta metro's CDC and NGO ecosystem provides strong employment for this pathway.
International Relations
International Relations (14 graduates) shows four-year earnings of $62,605 with no debt data reported. Outcomes are above the institutional median but require context: early-career wages in this field are typically low, and graduate school attendance is common. Students considering this path should model additional education costs explicitly.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (19 graduates) shows year-one earnings of $32,105 but no four-year or debt data.
Psychology
Psychology earns an F grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.112. Year-one earnings of $24,277 with median debt of $27,000 represent the weakest financial outcome tracked at Agnes Scott. Most psychology graduates who use this as a pre-graduate path should factor in additional graduate debt on top of undergraduate loans before committing to this trajectory.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Agnes Scott College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 62.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-635 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 620-695 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-31 |
| Enrollment | 836 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,604 |
Agnes Scott admits 62.2% of applicants. SAT math ranges from 540 to 635, SAT reading from 620 to 695, and ACT composites fall between 25 and 31. The college is moderately selective with a strong humanities orientation. Admission rates reflect Agnes Scott's recognition as a small, mission-driven institution with a distinctive intellectual culture.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Agnes Scott's ROI score of 45 reflects the tension between high aspirational positioning and modest earnings outcomes. The 70.7% completion rate is a genuine strength.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Scott College (this school) | 45 | $24,754 | $56,274 |
| Bay Path University | 52 | $14,271 | $55,383 |
| Sweet Briar College | 44 | $17,758 | $51,943 |
| Meredith College | 43 | $22,488 | $51,539 |
| Brenau University | 41 | $18,924 | $54,003 |
| Chatham University | 39 | $29,954 | $52,410 |
Who Thrives Here
Agnes Scott is best suited for academically motivated women who are committed to a liberal arts education and have a concrete plan for post-graduation - whether graduate school, public health, or international affairs. Strong merit aid that brings net price below $20,000 dramatically improves the financial case. Students without a defined post-graduation path or who carry significant loans face real financial risk given six-year earnings of $33,200.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Agnes Scott College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,754 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,274 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 70.7% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $26,749 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Agnes Scott College: Common Questions
Is Agnes Scott College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Agnes Scott College scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,754 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,274 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Agnes Scott College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,754 a year, or roughly $99,016 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Agnes Scott College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,274 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,474 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Agnes Scott College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.2 years for Agnes Scott College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Agnes Scott College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,749, against average earnings of $33,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Agnes Scott College?
The six-year graduation rate is 70.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.