Brewton-Parker College
Mount Vernon, Georgia · Private Nonprofit · 96.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 13/100 · Poor Value
Brewton-Parker College, a small Baptist private in Mount Vernon, Georgia, posts an ROI score of 13 -- one of the lowest scores in this batch and firmly in the Poor Value tier. The institution serves 774 students. Sticker tuition is $20,120 but net price is substantially higher at $26,054 -- the inversion happens at very-low-aid institutions where required fees and room/board components dominate the all-in cost. Four-year all-in is $104,216. Six-year median earnings are $29,800, climbing to $42,009 by year ten. The 34.8-year payback period is exceptionally long. The most damaging input is completion rate (5) at just 21% -- among the lowest in American higher education. The 60.6% three-year repayment rate is also weak. Median debt of $24,990 produces a 0.839 debt-to-earnings ratio. The institution does not have any programs reported in the federal data with sufficient cohort size for individual analysis. Brewton-Parker operates as a Baptist mission-driven institution in rural southeast Georgia; like Messenger College in this batch, it should be evaluated on theological alignment and community fit rather than financial-ROI metrics designed for general higher education.
The data raises concerns about Brewton-Parker College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score13/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate21.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period34.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Brewton-Parker College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,120/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,120/yr |
| Average net price | $26,054/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $104,216 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,009 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,990 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 34.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 21.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 774 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Brewton-Parker College is $20,120/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,054/year, or roughly $104,216 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $24,574/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,357/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,990 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $42,009 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.84 - 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 | $24,574 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,633 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,082 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,590 |
| $110,001+ | $29,357 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 face a net price of $24,574 -- substantial relative to typical lower-income earnings. With 45% Pell rate, this is a major segment of the student body. The four-year cost of about $98,000 against $29,800 six-year earnings produces deeply unfavorable math; the 21% completion rate compounds the risk dramatically.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $24,633, $48,001-$75,000 pays $27,082, $75,001-$110,000 pays $28,590. Net prices step up modestly across brackets but remain in a tight range. Georgia middle-income families have substantially better-priced public alternatives at Georgia Southern, Valdosta State, or Augusta University.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket pays $29,357. Higher-income families face essentially full price. At this cost level, comparison should be against Mercer University, Berry College, and other stronger Georgia private alternatives offering meaningful merit aid and substantially higher completion rates.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 45.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 51.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.5% |
| Enrollment | 774 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,765 |
Brewton-Parker's admission rate is 96.5% -- effectively open admission. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported. The combination of near-open admission and a 21% completion rate is severe; the institution admits many students who arrive without the academic preparation needed to succeed in college coursework, and existing support structures are not closing the readiness gap for the great majority. Students who succeed here are typically those with stronger preparation than the median admit and strong personal commitment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Brewton-Parker's listed peers include Agnes Scott College (an elite women's liberal arts college -- not a meaningful comparator), Clark Atlanta University (an HBCU with much stronger institutional resources), Philander Smith University in Arkansas (a smaller HBCU), Coker University in South Carolina (a small private), and Maharishi International University in Iowa (a unique transcendental-meditation-affiliated institution). None of these provides a clean comparison; Brewton-Parker's true peers would be other small rural Baptist colleges in the Southeast. Within that real peer set, Brewton-Parker sits at the lower end on completion and earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewton-Parker College (this school) | 13 | $26,054 | $42,009 |
| Agnes Scott College | 45 | $24,754 | $56,274 |
| Clark Atlanta University | 14 | $37,702 | $42,712 |
| Coker University | 13 | $20,286 | $40,117 |
| Maharishi International University | 12 | $14,956 | $27,981 |
| Philander Smith University | 10 | $14,224 | $38,427 |
Who Thrives Here
Brewton-Parker enrolls 774 students with a Pell Grant rate of 45.2% -- a high-need student body. The fit case is narrow: a student deeply committed to the Baptist community and rural southeast Georgia setting, planning to use Brewton-Parker as a path to ministry or local employment, and prepared to leverage strong personal commitment to beat the institutional 21% completion rate. Athletic recruiting also brings students who may not be primarily focused on degree completion. For students focused on financial outcomes, Brewton-Parker is a difficult value play.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Brewton-Parker College. With a net cost of $26,054 per year and median graduate earnings of only $42,009 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 34.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 21.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,990 against $42,009 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.