Georgia College & State University
Milledgeville, Georgia · Public · 78.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Georgia College & State University scores 62 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. In-state tuition of $9,186 and a net price of $20,686 produce a $82,744 four-year cost. Georgia College's strongest programs are in technology and health: Computer/Information Technology Administration (62 graduates, $67,455 year-one, $97,653 four-year, ROI grade B+), Registered Nursing (107 graduates, $78,087 year-one, ROI grade B+), and Computer Science (23 graduates, $76,971 year-one, $96,335 four-year, ROI grade B+) all deliver strong outcomes. The problem is the program distribution: large cohorts in Kinesiology (89 graduates, D-grade), Research Psychology (101 graduates, D-grade), and Biology (49 graduates, D-grade) pull the institutional average down. Fine Arts (29 graduates) and History (18 graduates) earn F grades with debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.0. The institution is Georgia's designated liberal arts public university - the liberal arts emphasis shapes the program mix and, consequently, the earnings distribution.
Georgia College & State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,186/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,512/yr |
| Average net price | $20,686/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,744 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,140 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,947 |
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: $9,186/year ($29,512/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 $20,686/year, or roughly $82,744 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 $15,396/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,216/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,250, which works out to about $236 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,500) and comes to 0.59, 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 | $15,396 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,772 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,179 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,294 |
| $110,001+ | $23,216 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $15,396 net price per year - approximately $61,584 over four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $16,772. Low-income students who target nursing or technology programs will achieve payback periods significantly better than the 9.6-year institutional average; those in kinesiology, fine arts, or humanities will face longer payback periods regardless of their income band.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,179 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,294. Aid declines modestly across the middle-income range. At $19,000-$22,000 per year, Georgia College is priced competitively for the Georgia public system. Middle-income families should weigh program outcomes carefully - the 9.6-year payback from the institutional median reflects a broad average that includes high-performing STEM and nursing programs as well as weaker liberal arts tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $23,216 per year - roughly $92,864 all-in. For full-pay families, Georgia College offers a distinctive liberal arts public option at a reasonable cost. Nursing and technology graduates at this price point will see payback periods under 5 years; fine arts and history graduates will see payback periods exceeding 15 years at the F-grade end of the distribution.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Georgia College & State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,795 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $83,058 | B+ |
| Marketing | $71,560 | C+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $54,441 | D |
| Journalism | $57,843 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,817 | D |
| Teacher Education | $52,509 | C+ |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $97,653 | B+ |
| Biology | $58,522 | D |
| Public Health | $62,386 | 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 Georgia College's strongest high-volume program: 107 graduates, $78,087 year-one, $83,058 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.320 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $25,000 is manageable against $78k year-one earnings. Nursing graduates from Georgia College access the central Georgia and Atlanta-area healthcare markets. The 107-graduate volume confirms that nursing is a genuine institutional strength, not a small-program outlier.
Computer/Information Technology Administration
Computer/Information Technology Administration has 62 graduates with $67,455 year-one and $97,653 four-year earnings - the highest four-year figure at the institution. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.307 (ROI grade B+). The $97k four-year figure reflects progression into management and senior technology roles within 4-6 years of graduation. Median debt of $20,740 is modest.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the second-highest volume program with 111 graduates, $50,056 year-one, $71,795 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.472 (ROI grade C+). The four-year trajectory to $72k reflects placement in regional business and management roles across central Georgia. Median debt of $23,611 keeps the ratio in C+ territory. Business is the institutional backbone by volume.
Journalism
Journalism has 93 graduates - the third-highest volume at the institution. Year-one earnings of $38,603 and four-year of $57,843 produce a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.648 (ROI grade C) against $25,000 median debt. The journalism credential from Georgia College carries the institution's liberal arts reputation into the media sector. The four-year figure of $57k likely reflects placement into public relations, content marketing, and digital media rather than traditional print journalism.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Georgia College & State 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 | 78.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-26 |
| Enrollment | 5,947 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,775 |
At 78.2%, Georgia College is broadly accessible. SAT mid-ranges (520-600 Math, 550-630 Reading) and ACT 22-26 reflect moderate preparation. The institution's identity as Georgia's liberal arts public draws students who are academically prepared but pursuing non-technical fields - a program mix that shapes the earnings distribution as much as any institutional quality factor.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia College & State University (this school) | 62 | $20,686 | $58,140 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | 65 | $16,236 | $57,566 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| University of Idaho | 59 | $14,831 | $54,670 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Who Thrives Here
Georgia College & State University admits 78.2% of applicants and enrolls 5,947 undergraduates in Milledgeville, Georgia. SAT mid-ranges are 520-600 Math and 550-630 Reading; ACT composite 22-26. Students drawn to the liberal arts environment within a public institution, or those targeting business, education, nursing, or technology programs in central Georgia, will find the campus culture distinctive.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Georgia College & State University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $20,686 a year after aid ($82,744 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,140 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $22,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, 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.
Georgia College & State University: Common Questions
Is Georgia College & State University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Georgia College & State University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,686 a year after aid ($82,744 over four years) against $58,140 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Georgia College & State 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 $20,686 a year, or roughly $82,744 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 Georgia College & State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,140 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,340 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 Georgia College & State 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 9.6 years for Georgia College & State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Georgia College & State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,250, against average earnings of $37,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. 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 Georgia College & State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.6%. 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.