College of Coastal Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia · Public · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 22/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
College of Coastal Georgia scores 22 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, reflecting an extremely weak completion rate of 25.6% - meaning roughly three in four students who enroll do not graduate - and a payback period of 46.6 years driven by average 6-year earnings of only $27,500. Only 56.5% of borrowers are repaying after 3 years. The in-state tuition of $3,616 and net price of $15,261 are low, but costs that are never recovered through degree-driven earnings produce weak value at any absolute price. The Registered Nursing program is the clear exception: 40 graduates, $73,587 year-one earnings, $81,657 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.279 (ROI grade B+). Nursing graduates here recover their investment in roughly 3 years. Teacher Education (33 graduates, $40,747 year-one, B-grade ROI) also performs reasonably well. Biology ($23,272 year-one) and Psychology ($30,532 year-one) are structurally weak outcomes at this institution. The 25.6% completion rate is the defining number: this school loses the vast majority of its students before graduation, which transforms an otherwise affordable institution into a financial risk.
How College of Coastal Georgia 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 Score22/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate25.6% - 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.
- Payback period46.6 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
College of Coastal Georgia
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $3,616/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,936/yr |
| Average net price | $15,261/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,044 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,318 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,039 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 46.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 25.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,979 |
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: $3,616/year ($10,936/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,261/year, or roughly $61,044 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 $13,298/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,646/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,039, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($27,500) and comes to 0.55, 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 | $13,298 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,494 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,022 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,785 |
| $110,001+ | $19,646 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $13,298 net price at CCGA. This low absolute cost masks the scale of the completion problem: non-completers pay two to three years of tuition without a credential, which at any income level is a poor outcome. Low-income students at this school face elevated risk from the 25.6% graduation rate and the 56.5% 3-year repayment rate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,022 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $18,785. These remain low net prices for a four-year degree. However, the completion rate means most students will not recover even this modest investment.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $19,646 per year. At $27,500 average 6-year earnings, even the relatively low four-year total cost of roughly $78,000 produces a 46.6-year payback on average. Higher-income families whose children are committed to nursing at CCGA may find the program worthwhile; other programs do not justify even this relatively low price.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at College of Coastal Georgia with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $56,480 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $81,657 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $49,491 | B |
| Biology | $43,530 | C+ |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $46,511 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $44,274 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $38,244 | - |
| Psychology | $44,438 | D |
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
Registered Nursing is the clear best-value program at CCGA: 40 graduates, $73,587 year-one earnings, $81,657 year-four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.279 (ROI grade B+). At in-state net price, nursing graduates here achieve a short payback period and earn wages substantially above the institutional median. This is the primary program at CCGA where the ROI math works.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (33 graduates) earns B-grade ROI with $40,747 year-one earnings, $49,491 at year four, and a relatively low median debt of $17,125 (debt-to-earnings 0.420). Georgia's teacher job market provides stable employment for credential-holders. The wages are modest but the debt load is low, producing a manageable outcome for students who complete the program.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (63 graduates) earns C+-grade ROI: $33,940 year-one, $56,480 year-four, median debt of $16,000 and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.471. The year-one figure is low but the four-year trajectory to $56k is reasonable. At CCGA's net price, business graduates can recover their investment if they complete - but the 25.6% institutional completion rate means the primary risk is not graduating.
Biology
Biology (33 graduates) earns C+-grade ROI with $23,272 year-one earnings. Year-four earnings of $43,530 show trajectory improvement, but many biology graduates are presumably pursuing graduate or professional school, which depress near-term earnings. Median debt of $12,025 and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.517 at year four suggests eventual recovery, but near-term financial pressure is real.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 35.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 48.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How College of Coastal Georgia’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 | 98.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 410-530 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 465-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-22 |
| Enrollment | 2,979 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,029 |
At 98.1%, CCGA is open-access. SAT 410-530 Math, 465-570 Reading, ACT 17-22, are the middle ranges. Admission is not a meaningful barrier. With only one in four students graduating, new students should honestly assess their preparedness and access to academic support resources.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The school's completion rate is 25.6%. The Registered Nursing program is a legitimate asset, but it cannot offset the institutional aggregate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Coastal Georgia (this school) | 22 | $15,261 | $39,318 |
| The Evergreen State College | 22 | $24,319 | $45,320 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| 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
College of Coastal Georgia admits 98.1% of applicants - effectively open enrollment. SAT mid-range is 410-530 Math, 465-570 Reading; ACT composite 17-22. With 2,979 enrolled students, it is a small regional institution in Brunswick, GA. Pell grant rate of 40.5% reflects substantial first-generation enrollment. The only financially defensible pathway at this institution, based on Scorecard data, is Registered Nursing. Students considering other programs should weigh the 25.6% completion rate and $27,500 average earnings seriously before enrolling.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, College of Coastal Georgia scores 22/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $15,261 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $39,318 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 46.6 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: weak earnings relative to cost, its 25.6% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 56.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $15,039 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $27,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
College of Coastal Georgia: Common Questions
Is College of Coastal Georgia worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. College of Coastal Georgia scores 22/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $15,261 a year after aid against $39,318 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 46.6 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does College of Coastal Georgia 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 $15,261 a year, or roughly $61,044 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 College of Coastal Georgia graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $39,318 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off College of Coastal Georgia?
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 46.6 years for College of Coastal Georgia. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do College of Coastal Georgia graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,039, against average earnings of $27,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at College of Coastal Georgia?
The six-year graduation rate is 25.6%. 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.