Middle Georgia State University
Macon, Georgia · Public · 99.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 21/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Middle Georgia State University scores 21 (Below Benchmark) - a very weak result driven by a completion rate of 25.3%, a 32.3-year payback period, and $29,400 average six-year earnings. Only one in four students who enroll graduates in four years. The one-year repayment rate of 51.75% means nearly half of former students are not making progress on their loans within a year of leaving. Registered Nursing (153 graduates, $70,650 year one) is the clear exception - it produces good outcomes at a defensible cost. For every other program, the combination of low completion rates, low earnings, and high borrowing relative to wages makes the financial case extremely difficult.
How Middle Georgia State University 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 Score21/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate25.3% - 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 period32.3 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Middle Georgia State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,038/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,390/yr |
| Average net price | $12,361/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $49,444 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,863 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $201 |
| Estimated payback period | 32.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 25.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,574 |
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: $5,038/year ($16,390/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 $12,361/year, or roughly $49,444 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 $10,668/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,762/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,000, which works out to about $201 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($29,400) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $10,668 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,920 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,679 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,901 |
| $110,001+ | $16,762 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-$30,000 income bracket pays $10,668 per year. For the 42.9% of students receiving Pell grants, this is an accessible price point. The caution is stark: at a 25.3% completion rate and near-50% loan delinquency within one year of leaving, low-income students face the highest risk of entering debt without a credential. Nursing is the one program where the financial equation is clearly positive at this price.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $12,679 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $15,901 per year. At these prices, the question is not affordability - it's completion probability and program choice. Middle-income students with nursing, CS, or aviation goals have a defensible financial case. Students in general liberal arts, psychology, or social sciences face a challenging financial picture regardless of income bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $16,762 per year - $67,048 over four years. At this price, Middle Georgia State is inexpensive in absolute terms. The 32.3-year payback period at institutional median earnings is the key concern.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Middle Georgia State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $72,255 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,797 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $62,734 | C+ |
| Psychology | $46,976 | D |
| Air Transportation | $93,627 | C |
| Teacher Education | $51,369 | C |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $46,999 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,719 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $45,671 | F |
| Biology | $60,578 | 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
Nursing (153 graduates) earns $70,650 year one and $72,255 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.326 and $23,000 median debt. This is Middle Georgia State's standout program by a wide margin - Georgia healthcare wages support this debt load, and the Macon and middle Georgia hospital market provides clinical placement. Nursing is the primary financial reason to consider this institution.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (135 graduates) earns $49,052 year one and $66,797 year four with a C+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.535 and $26,243 median debt. These are adequate outcomes for the price point, but only for students who complete the degree. The institutional completion rate of 25.3% means a large share of enrolled business students never reach these wage levels.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS (134 graduates) earns $47,825 year one and $62,734 year four with a C+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.543 and $25,988 median debt. Technology sector growth in the Atlanta corridor creates some demand pull for graduates willing to commute or relocate.
Air Transportation
Aviation (99 graduates) earns $41,028 year one and $93,627 year four with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.553 and $22,700 median debt. The year-four figure of $93,627 is striking - aviation careers have steep earnings growth once pilots advance to commercial certifications. The year-one figure reflects early-career regional flying wages; the four-year figure reflects advancement into higher-pay positions. Aviation is a legitimate growth track at Middle Georgia State given the regional aviation infrastructure.
Psychology
Psychology (126 graduates) reports $28,262 year one, $46,976 year four, D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.976 and $27,585 median debt. Graduates nearly owe a full year's wages in debt and earn very little in year one. Psychology at Middle Georgia State is a program where the low-cost institution does not compensate for the earnings ceiling of the credential - the payback period for this program alone likely exceeds 20 years.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 51.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 56.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 37.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 40.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Middle Georgia State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2013-2024).
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 | 99.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-24 |
| Enrollment | 6,574 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,304 |
Middle Georgia State admits 99.7% of applicants with SAT Math 460-580 and Reading 490-610, ACT composite 16-24. This is open enrollment in practice - any student with a high school diploma is admitted. Academic preparation varies widely across the student body, which directly contributes to the 25.3% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Middle Georgia's completion rate is 25.3%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Georgia State University (this school) | 21 | $12,361 | $40,863 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | 27 | $21,708 | $44,140 |
| Troy University | 22 | $16,527 | $42,062 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
| Texas Southern University | 10 | $16,590 | $38,924 |
Who Thrives Here
Middle Georgia State serves a predominantly first-generation, Pell-eligible (42.9%) student population across multiple Georgia campuses. For students with limited alternatives, the $5,038 in-state tuition and $12,361 net price make it an affordable option. The near-100% acceptance rate (99.7%) is genuinely open access. Students should plan explicitly for degree completion - the 25.3% graduation rate means the majority of students who start here do not finish, and they still face loan obligations if they borrowed. Nursing students are the clear exception and should be prioritized in any recommendation.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Middle Georgia State University scores 21/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,361 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $40,863 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 32.3 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 25.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 56.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $19,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $29,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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.
Middle Georgia State University: Common Questions
Is Middle Georgia State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Middle Georgia State University scores 21/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,361 a year after aid against $40,863 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 32.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Middle Georgia 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 $12,361 a year, or roughly $49,444 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 Middle Georgia State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $40,863 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 Middle Georgia 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 32.3 years for Middle Georgia State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Middle Georgia State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,000, against average earnings of $29,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 Middle Georgia State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 25.3%. 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.