Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, Georgia · Public · 65.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 9/100 · Poor Value
Fort Valley State University scores 9 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale — the lowest score in this dataset. Fort Valley is a historically Black public university in Fort Valley, GA with 2,684 enrolled students. Its ROI score of 9 reflects a 108.9-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.216, a 41.1% completion rate, and a repayment rate of just 31.7% — fewer than 1 in 3 borrowers making progress on their debt at 7 years. In-state tuition is $5,526 and net price is $10,338, which is genuinely low. The problem is not the cost; the problem is the outcome. Median 6-year earnings of $25,500 are lower than the median high school graduate's earnings in the United States, producing a near-zero earnings premium over the alternative of not attending. Of the 9 programs with graded outcomes, every single one earns an F — no exceptions. Business Administration (44 grads, $31,173 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.025), Criminal Justice (26 grads, $29,445 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.176), Psychology (32 grads, $27,677 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.359), Social Work (20 grads, $26,299 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.44), and Liberal Arts (18 grads, $23,157 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.714) all have debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.0. Computer and Information Sciences (15 grads, $49,827 year-one, debt-to-earnings 0.823) is the best-performing program and earns only a D.
The data raises concerns about Fort Valley State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score9/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.22 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Fort Valley State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,526/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,932/yr |
| Average net price | $10,338/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $41,352 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,666 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $25,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $329 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,684 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Fort Valley State University is $5,526/year ($16,932/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 $10,338/year, or roughly $41,352 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $9,017/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,914/year.
The median graduate leaves with $31,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $329 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $36,666 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.22 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | $9,017 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,021 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,502 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,571 |
| $110,001+ | $16,914 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $9,017 per year at Fort Valley State — a genuinely low net price for a four-year institution. The 30001-48000 bracket pays nearly the same at $9,021. For the 73.3% of enrolled students who receive Pell grants, the total cost of attendance is manageable in absolute terms. The problem is not what students pay; it is what they earn afterward. At $25,500 median 6-year earnings, the return on even $9,000 per year in education spending is near zero relative to the labor market alternative. Low-income students at FVSU face the worst risk profile in this dataset: low cost, very low completion rate, and very low earnings for those who do complete.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $11,502 at Fort Valley State, rising to $15,571 for the 75001-110000 bracket. These moderate price increases still reflect a low-cost institution. Middle-income families should understand, however, that the ROI score of 9 is not primarily a cost problem — it is an outcomes problem. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.216 and the 108.9-year payback period persist regardless of which income bracket the family occupies, because they are driven by low graduate earnings, not high net price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $16,914 per year at Fort Valley State — a four-year total near $67,000. For high-income families, this is a relatively low absolute cost for a four-year degree. But the question is not whether the cost is low in absolute terms; it is whether the outcomes justify the expenditure. At $25,500 median earnings 6 years out, and with programs uniformly earning D or F grades on ROI, Fort Valley State does not represent a financially sound investment even at its low price point, unless the student is targeting CS specifically and can manage the $41,000 median debt in that program.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fort Valley State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,411 | F |
| Psychology | $45,292 | F |
| Biology | $26,379 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,033 | F |
| Social Work | $37,564 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $23,157 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $44,881 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $26,285 | F |
| Family and Consumer Sciences | $38,345 | F |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $34,263 | - |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is FVSU's only program approaching acceptable outcomes: 15 graduates, $49,827 year-one, debt-to-earnings 0.823 (grade D) on $41,000 median debt. The D grade reflects that $41,000 in median debt against $49,827 year-one earnings is a manageable but still unfavorable ratio. The $41,000 median debt figure is notable — substantially higher than the institutional average — suggesting CS students at FVSU are borrowing more than their peers, possibly due to different enrollment patterns or persistence timelines. Year-one earnings of $49,827 are competitive for CS in the region. CS is the only program at FVSU where a graduate can plausibly manage their debt burden.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration earns an F grade: 44 graduates — the largest program — at $31,173 year-one and $56,411 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.025 on $31,937 median debt. Graduating with more debt than you earn in a year is the textbook definition of a debt trap. The year-four trajectory to $56,411 shows meaningful career growth, but the first several years post-graduation involve debt payments against income that does not service them easily. Business at FVSU reflects the broader structural problem: the degree credentials in a market where the same credential from better-resourced institutions commands higher wages.
Psychology
Psychology earns an F grade: 32 graduates, $27,677 year-one, $45,292 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.359 on $37,600 median debt. The $37,600 median debt figure is above average for FVSU — and at $27,677 year-one, these graduates owe more than their annual pre-tax income. The 10-year trajectory to $45,292 remains below the debt amount until at least year seven. Psychology at FVSU, absent a plan for graduate school in a licensed clinical field, produces the worst financial outcomes of any program with substantial graduate counts at the institution.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 21.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 31.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 26.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 32.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-510 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-24 |
| Enrollment | 2,684 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 73.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,426 |
Fort Valley State admits 65.9% of applicants. SAT mid-range of 450-510 Math and 480-560 Reading reflects an open-access institutional profile. ACT 19-24 composite. The institution's open-access mission means that academic preparation varies widely among enrolled students. Prospective students should ask specifically about remediation support, tutoring services, and retention programs — the 41.1% completion rate indicates that structural barriers to degree completion exist, and the quality of support infrastructure matters enormously for students who enter needing academic development. Computer Science (15 grads) has the best outcomes in the institution and likely has the most academically prepared students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Fort Valley State's Scorecard peer schools include Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Albany State University, University of Maine at Augusta, University of Guam, and Cameron University — a grouping of open-access public institutions. Among Georgia HBCUs, the comparison to Albany State University is most direct. Fort Valley State's ROI of 9 places it last in nearly any peer comparison on financial return. The institution's HBCU identity, agricultural heritage, and connection to the Fort Valley, GA community serve missions that the ROI framework does not capture. But for prospective students evaluating Fort Valley State on financial grounds, the data — completion rate 41.1%, earnings premium 4.0%, repayment rate 31.7% — presents a deeply unfavorable picture that any honest assessment must acknowledge.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Valley State University (this school) | 9 | $10,338 | $36,666 |
| Lincoln University | 10 | $19,092 | $39,463 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | 9 | $12,030 | $38,518 |
| Kentucky State University | 9 | $8,040 | $36,382 |
| South Carolina State University | 9 | $18,097 | $38,262 |
| Virginia Union University | 9 | $13,235 | $38,275 |
Who Thrives Here
Fort Valley State admits 65.9% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 450-510 Math and 480-560 Reading; ACT composite 19-24. With a 73.3% Pell grant rate — among the highest of any institution in this dataset — FVSU serves a predominantly Pell-eligible, low-income student population. As an HBCU, FVSU carries cultural and historical significance for Black students in Georgia, and the campus experience is shaped by that identity. The 41.1% completion rate is the institution's most urgent structural problem. More than half of students who enroll do not graduate, and those who borrow without completing face the worst debt outcomes. A prospective student choosing FVSU on financial grounds alone should understand that the data does not support the investment. Students choosing FVSU for community, identity, and HBCU experience should enter with clear plans for academic support and completion.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Fort Valley State University. With a net cost of $10,338 per year and median graduate earnings of only $36,666 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 41.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $31,000 against $36,666 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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.