LaGrange College
Lagrange, Georgia · Private Nonprofit · 62.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 37/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
LaGrange College scores 37 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, a rating driven by a concerning combination of low earnings, high debt, and a completion rate that cuts the expected graduate pool nearly in half. Average 6-year earnings are $36,100, while a 13.3-year payback period signals that most students spend well over a decade repaying costs before reaching net financial benefit. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.713 is well above the 0.5 threshold that signals manageable borrowing - graduates carry a median $25,730 in debt against earnings that make those payments genuinely burdensome. Only 46.9% of students complete their degree, which means a substantial portion of those who enroll never reach the salary outcomes the data captures. Registered Nursing is the standout program here: 31 graduates earning $76,077 at year one and $90,392 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.342 (ROI grade B+). That program's outcomes are meaningfully better than the institutional average and represent the clearest path to solid financial returns at LaGrange. The Visual and Performing Arts program (9 graduates) reports $21,824 median year-one earnings - a number that cannot service $25,000-plus in debt at any reasonable standard. Prospective students considering LaGrange should run the numbers carefully by intended major before committing.
How LaGrange College 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 Score37/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
LaGrange College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,400/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,400/yr |
| Average net price | $20,875/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,500 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,745 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,730 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 636 |
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: $35,400/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,875/year, or roughly $83,500 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 $20,764/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,549/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,730, which works out to about $273 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,100) and comes to 0.71, 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 | $20,764 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,322 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,718 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,707 |
| $110,001+ | $24,549 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $20,764 net price per year at LaGrange - a significant sum relative to the $36,100 average 6-year earnings the typical graduate achieves. At four years of enrollment, that is roughly $83,000 in costs before living expenses. For low-income families, the risk here is substantial: the 46.9% completion rate means there is a meaningful chance of incurring debt without a credential. Nursing-track students have the clearest financial case; other programs require careful scrutiny.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the 48001-75000 bracket pay $18,718 net per year - slightly less than the lowest bracket, suggesting the aid structure compresses costs modestly across the income range. The 75001-110000 bracket pays $18,707, nearly identical. Total four-year cost at these prices is roughly $75,000-$80,000, which against $36,100 average 6-year earnings represents a payback period of over 13 years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $24,549 net per year - the highest in LaGrange's income schedule.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at LaGrange College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $90,392 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,584 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,131 | C+ |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $21,824 | - |
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 LaGrange's strongest ROI program by a significant margin. With 31 graduates earning $76,077 at year one and $90,392 at year four, nursing represents the clearest financial case for enrollment here. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.342 (ROI grade B+) indicates manageable debt against strong earnings - graduates carry median debt of $26,000 but are well-positioned to service it quickly on nursing salaries. This is the program that makes the strongest argument for LaGrange as a viable investment.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (18 graduates) earns $37,836 at year one and $64,584 at year four, but carries a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.714 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000 against $37,836 in year-one earnings creates real repayment strain. The four-year trajectory to $64,584 is better, but the payback math is difficult: students borrowing $27,000 will face payments that consume a substantial share of starting-year earnings.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (10 graduates) shows $53,131 median earnings at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.508 (ROI grade C+). Year-one earnings are not reported, which limits the near-term picture, but the four-year figure is reasonable for the field. Median debt of $27,000 requires steady repayment discipline. Students entering kinesiology should plan for graduate school if targeting clinical or higher-earning roles, as undergraduate earnings in this field are typically constrained.
Visual and Performing Arts
Visual and Performing Arts (9 graduates) reports $21,824 median year-one earnings with no four-year figure and no debt or ROI grade data available. The year-one figure is the lowest reported by any LaGrange program and is difficult to reconcile with tuition-level debt. This program's financial case is weak by the available data. Students drawn to the arts should weigh this honestly and investigate scholarship availability, as net price reduction is the primary lever for improving ROI in this field.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How LaGrange College’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 | 62.1% |
| Enrollment | 636 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,863 |
At 62.1% acceptance, LaGrange is moderately selective by admission rate but presents no published standardized test thresholds in available data. Admission is accessible for most qualified applicants. The more meaningful threshold for prospective students is financial fit: net price averages around $19,000-$21,000 across most income brackets, with limited differentiation between low-income and middle-income families. The net price calculator should be consulted before applying.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
LaGrange's ROI score is 37 (Below Benchmark). The completion rate of 46.9% is a particular weakness.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| LaGrange College (this school) | 37 | $20,875 | $51,745 |
| Agnes Scott College | 45 | $24,754 | $56,274 |
| Parker University | 39 | $29,135 | $42,091 |
| Peirce College | 38 | $12,148 | $50,660 |
| Mount Mary University | 32 | $20,144 | $48,745 |
| Clark Atlanta University | 14 | $37,702 | $42,712 |
Who Thrives Here
LaGrange admits 62.1% of applicants, and the college does not report SAT or ACT score ranges in its current Scorecard data. Enrollment is small at 636 students, offering the intimate campus experience that characterizes small liberal arts colleges in the South. Pell grant rate of 43.1% indicates a student body with significant financial need. Students considering lower-earning majors should weigh the debt load carefully against the 46.9% completion rate, which reflects real institutional completion challenges that affect career timelines.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, LaGrange College scores 37/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $20,875 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $51,745 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 13.3 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 46.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,730 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. 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.
LaGrange College: Common Questions
Is LaGrange College worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. LaGrange College scores 37/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $20,875 a year after aid against $51,745 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 13.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does LaGrange College 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 $20,875 a year, or roughly $83,500 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 LaGrange College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,745 ten years after enrolling, roughly $9,945 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 LaGrange College?
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 13.3 years for LaGrange College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do LaGrange College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,730, against average earnings of $36,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. 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 LaGrange College?
The six-year graduation rate is 46.9%. 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.