Brenau University
Gainesville, Georgia · Private Nonprofit · 87.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Brenau University earns a 41 ROI score in Below Benchmark tier. Sticker tuition is $34,027, but Brenau discounts aggressively - net price after aid is $18,924, with four-year total cost at $75,696. Median earnings ten years out are $54,003 against $27,000 median debt - a 0.654 debt-to-earnings ratio and 11.4-year payback. The earnings premium of 0.251 is decent. Completion is 32.9% (scoring 12/100) and repayment is 61.3% (scoring 19/100). Combined with a 46% Pell rate, these numbers tell a story of an institution serving lower-income students who often don't finish, leaving them with debt and no credential. Nursing is the standout strong program; everything else faces tough math. Notably, several programs show median debt above $40,000 - well above the campus median - indicating that some students borrow heavily for programs that don't pay back commensurate earnings.
How Brenau University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score41/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate32.9% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Brenau University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,027/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,027/yr |
| Average net price | $18,924/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $75,696 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,003 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 32.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,029 |
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: $34,027/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,924/year, or roughly $75,696 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 $19,481/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,426/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,300) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $19,481 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,379 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,420 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,279 |
| $110,001+ | $20,426 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,481 - actually more than the $17,379 paid by the $30,001-$48,000 bracket. Four-year totals around $78,000 against $54,003 earnings is workable only in nursing; in other majors, the math is rough.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $17,379, with the $48,001-$75,000 bracket at $18,420 and $75,001-$110,000 at $18,279 - nearly flat across three middle-income tiers. This is unusual aid structure: Brenau's discounting is essentially constant across middle incomes rather than scaling. Families should run the net-price calculator carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $20,426 - well below the $34,027 sticker. The merit/discount even at the top of the income distribution is meaningful. At full pay, the conventional ROI math is severely negative outside nursing.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Brenau University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $88,731 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,138 | D |
| Psychology | $42,586 | D |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,910 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $38,591 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $55,114 | F |
| Human Resources Management | $53,693 | - |
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 by far the largest program at 70 graduates with first-year earnings of $80,786 climbing to $88,731 - Brenau's strongest absolute earnings. But median debt is a striking $42,187, well above the campus median, producing a 0.522 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. The nursing market saves this program from a worse grade, but the high debt load suggests many students are borrowing close to the full cost of the program.
Teacher Education
Teacher Ed graduated 33 with first-year earnings of $40,980 against a hefty $38,250 in debt - a D grade and 0.933 ratio. The four-year earnings of $46,138 indicate shallow growth, which is the structural reality of Georgia teacher pay. This is a mission-driven major with a tough financial profile.
Psychology
Psychology produced 22 graduates with first-year earnings of $36,497 against $30,761 in debt - a D grade and 0.843 ratio. The four-year earnings of $42,586 indicate modest growth. As a standalone bachelor's, this is among the riskiest majors at Brenau; graduate-school continuation is essentially required for a positive outcome.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama graduated 16 with four-year earnings of $36,910 against $19,500 in debt - notably below the campus median - for a C+ grade and 0.528 ratio. The lower debt is the saving feature; if students keep borrowing tight, the theater pathway can work at Brenau's price point. Outcomes are modest by design in the performing arts.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Admin produced 15 graduates with four-year earnings of $38,591 against $29,648 in debt - a D grade and 0.768 ratio. The earnings are notably low for what's typically a stable career path, suggesting graduates may be in entry-level positions or part-time roles. Students should target larger health systems for stronger outcomes.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Brenau University’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 | 87.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-22 |
| Enrollment | 1,029 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,783 |
Brenau admits 87.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 430-580 in math and 500-620 in reading, and ACT 18-22. The wide SAT math range (150 points) reflects a heterogeneous academic profile. The combination of broad admissions and this score range correlates directly with the 32.9% completion rate, which is the most concerning metric in the profile. Test-optional applicants expand the academic spread further.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brenau University (this school) | 41 | $18,924 | $54,003 |
| Bay Path University | 52 | $14,271 | $55,383 |
| Agnes Scott College | 45 | $24,754 | $56,274 |
| Sweet Briar College | 44 | $17,758 | $51,943 |
| Meredith College | 43 | $22,488 | $51,539 |
| Chatham University | 39 | $29,954 | $52,410 |
Who Thrives Here
Strong fit: students locked into nursing who have the academic and personal preparation to finish. Decent fit: occupational therapy and physical therapy graduate-pipeline students who use the Bachelor's as a stepping stone. Worst fit: students who borrow at or above the campus median for non-nursing programs, where the completion risk and the debt-to-earnings math compound.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Brenau University scores 41/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $18,924 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $54,003 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 11.4 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 32.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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.
Brenau University: Common Questions
Is Brenau University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Brenau University scores 41/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $18,924 a year after aid against $54,003 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 11.4 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Brenau University 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 $18,924 a year, or roughly $75,696 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 Brenau University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,003 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,203 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 Brenau University?
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 11.4 years for Brenau University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Brenau University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 Brenau University?
The six-year graduation rate is 32.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.