South University-Savannah
Savannah, Georgia · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 7/100 · Poor Value
South University-Savannah scores 7 (Poor Value) -- among the lowest scores on this site. The payback period is listed as 999, meaning the algorithm found no calculable payback: median 6-year earnings of $32,500 do not exceed the earnings premium threshold against cost. The 9.1% completion rate means roughly 1 in 11 entering students completes a degree. The repayment rate of 45.3% at 3 years and only 33.9% at 7 years indicates persistent, deepening borrower distress. This is a for-profit institution owned by Education Management LLC, and the data reflects outcomes that should give any prospective student serious pause. A 61.9% Pell grant rate means the students most harmed are disproportionately low-income federal aid recipients.
The data raises concerns about South University-Savannah
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score7/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate9.1% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
South University-Savannah
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,145/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,145/yr |
| Average net price | $28,743/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $114,972 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,421 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,123 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 9.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 270 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at South University-Savannah is $18,145/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $28,743/year, or roughly $114,972 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $27,713/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,277/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,123 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $277 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $34,421 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $27,713 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,147 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,954 |
| $110,001+ | $33,277 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $27,713 per year at South University-Savannah -- $110,852 over four years, assuming completion. Against $32,500 median 6-year earnings and a 9.1% completion rate, this is among the worst cost-to-outcome ratios in Georgia's higher education market. Most Pell-eligible students will not complete a degree at this institution, meaning the actual cost to the federal aid system and to the student is incurred without the credential benefit.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $30,147 per year -- higher than the lowest-income bracket, which is unusual and suggests minimal progressive aid structure. Net price data for the $48,001-$75,000 bracket is not available. Middle-income families have no compelling reason to choose South University-Savannah over accessible Georgia public alternatives at materially lower cost and with far better outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $33,277 per year -- $133,108 over four years. At this price, no non-nursing program at South University-Savannah produces a defensible financial return. The school's for-profit structure, low completion rate, and poor repayment data collectively describe an institution that does not serve students well at any income level.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at South University-Savannah with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $46,885 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $91,363 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,445 | F |
| Public Health | $45,993 | F |
| Information Science | $58,915 | F |
| Psychology | $39,694 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,322 | F |
| Legal Support Services | $49,335 | F |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $47,390 | F |
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 (8 graduates) earns $77,635 at year one and $91,363 at year four, with a C+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.539 and $41,815 median debt. This is the only program at South University-Savannah with defensible earnings -- but median debt of $41,815 is far above what comparable nursing programs at Georgia public schools charge. Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and Savannah State all offer nursing pathways at public prices with similar or better earnings and far lower debt loads. The C+ grade on what should be a strong-earnings program reflects the cost inflation problem specific to this institution.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (7 graduates) earns $43,773 at year one and $53,445 at year four, with an F-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.26 and $55,162 median debt. Graduates owe $55,162 -- more than a year's full earnings -- in student debt. Against $43,773 year-one earnings, this represents a severe financial burden. Business administration from a for-profit school with a 9.1% completion rate carries no credential signal to employers. The financial outcome here is predictably poor.
Psychology
Psychology (1 graduate) earns $28,684 at year one and $39,694 at year four, with an F-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.907 and $54,702 median debt. Graduates owe nearly twice their annual salary in debt, at year one. With only 1 reported graduate, the figure is not statistically meaningful, but the pattern it represents -- low completion, very high debt, low earnings -- is consistent across the South University system. This program profile is a clear case against enrollment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 38.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 45.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 27.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 33.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 270 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 61.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,244 |
South University-Savannah does not report admissions selectivity data, consistent with open or minimally screened enrollment. No academic credential signal accrues from admission to this institution. Students should evaluate this school exclusively on its program outcomes, which with limited exceptions are uniformly poor.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
South University-Savannah's peers include American InterContinental University-Atlanta, Strayer University-Georgia, South University-Montgomery, South University-Virginia Beach, and South University-West Palm Beach. This peer group consists entirely of for-profit or for-profit-adjacent institutions with poor outcomes. South University-Savannah (7) scores at the bottom of this already-weak peer group. The South University system as a whole carries similar completion and repayment challenges across campuses. Students evaluating any South University campus should apply the same scrutiny applied here.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| South University-Savannah (this school) | 7 | $28,743 | $34,421 |
| Strayer University-Georgia | 9 | $18,318 | $40,092 |
| South University-West Palm Beach | 8 | $20,271 | $34,421 |
| South University-Montgomery | 7 | $27,807 | $34,421 |
| American InterContinental University-Atlanta | 7 | $16,482 | $36,144 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | 7 | $27,843 | $34,421 |
Who Thrives Here
South University-Savannah does not report an admission rate or test score data. Enrollment is small at 270 students, with a 61.9% Pell grant rate. The school operates in a competitive Savannah market where Savannah State University (public HBCU), Armstrong-Georgia Southern, and Georgia Southern provide accessible public alternatives with far stronger outcomes. At $28,743 average net price -- higher than most Georgia public schools -- this institution's population faces a highly unfavorable cost-to-outcome ratio. The 9.1% completion rate is not a student-quality problem; it is an institutional failure to support students to graduation.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about South University-Savannah. With a net cost of $28,743 per year and median graduate earnings of only $34,421 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 9.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,123 against $34,421 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.