University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia · Public · 37.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 88/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Georgia scores 88 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - Georgia's flagship public research university in Athens with 32,137 enrolled students, in-state tuition of $11,450, and a net price of $13,936. The score reflects a 5.8-year payback period, a 60.5% earnings premium, a 0.409 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 89.7% completion rate, and a 75.4% repayment rate at 3 years. Average 6-year earnings of $45,200 and median 10-year earnings of $68,726 reflect the weight of large-graduate programs in arts and sciences. UGA's Terry College programs and engineering cluster are the institutional standouts: Management Information Systems (369 grads, $78,190 year-one, $113,184 at year four, grade A), Finance (545 grads, $67,444 year-one, $97,364 at year four, grade B+), Marketing (398 grads, $51,951 year-one, grade B), and Computer Science (247 grads, $79,546 year-one, grade B+) anchor the portfolio. Median debt is $18,500.
University of Georgia scores in the top 7% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Georgia
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,450/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,688/yr |
| Average net price | $13,936/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $55,744 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,726 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 89.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 32,137 |
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: $11,450/year ($31,688/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 $13,936/year, or roughly $55,744 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 $8,085/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,079/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,500, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,200) and comes to 0.41, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $8,085 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,686 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,096 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,942 |
| $110,001+ | $18,079 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $8,085 per year at UGA and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $8,686 - both reflecting federal Pell Grant eligibility and Georgia need-based aid. For low-income Georgia students who qualify for HOPE Scholarship and Pell Grants simultaneously, UGA's net cost can be near zero. The 89.7% completion rate confirms that students who enroll are overwhelmingly completing - a critical variable for low-income students who borrow.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,096 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $16,942. Middle-income Georgia families who maintain HOPE Scholarship eligibility face an effective cost even lower than these figures. At $13,000-$17,000 per year, the 5.8-year payback on $45,200 average 6-year earnings is solid at the institutional level, and substantially better for students in business, MIS, and engineering. Middle-income families should confirm HOPE eligibility before finalizing cost calculations.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $18,079 per year at UGA - a four-year total of approximately $72,000. At $45,200 average 6-year earnings, the payback on $72,000 is approximately 6 years. MIS graduates ($78,190 year-one) recover full-pay costs in under 3 years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Georgia with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $59,446 | D |
| Biology | $60,366 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $97,364 | B+ |
| Marketing | $85,785 | B |
| Management Information Systems | $113,184 | A |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $74,531 | C+ |
| International Relations | $70,877 | C |
| Insurance | $94,729 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $107,397 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $80,881 | B+ |
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.
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems earns UGA's highest program grade at A: 369 confirmed graduates, $78,190 year-one, $113,184 at year four, on $19,500 median debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.249 - graduates owe approximately 3 months of annual earnings at graduation. Year-one earnings are $78,190. The four-year trajectory to $113,184 reflects strong career progression in enterprise technology and data roles. At a $13,936 net price, MIS at UGA is a financially efficient technology credential.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is UGA's largest A/B+ graded program by confirmed graduate count at 545 graduates: $67,444 year-one, $97,364 at year four, grade B+ on $20,299 median debt. Terry College Finance graduates are entering Atlanta's banking, insurance, and corporate finance sector at competitive entry wages. The four-year trajectory to $97,364 reflects advancement into senior analyst and management roles. At $13,936 net price and $20,299 median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.301 means graduates owe approximately 4 months of annual pre-tax income. Finance at UGA, combined with HOPE eligibility, is a cost-efficient business credential.
Psychology
Psychology is UGA's largest confirmed-graduate program at 591 graduates, earning a D grade: $29,874 year-one, $59,446 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.721 on $21,552 median debt. Year-one earnings of $29,874 in the Athens-Atlanta labor market are limited for a bachelor's-level credential. The four-year trajectory to $59,446 shows meaningful growth - consistent with psychology graduates returning for graduate education in clinical psychology, counseling, or social work - but that growth depends on post-baccalaureate investment that the undergraduate data does not capture. Psychology majors at UGA should have a concrete graduate school or career plan before entering the program. The 591-graduate count means psychology is a significant fraction of UGA's total graduate population and contributes substantially to the institutional median.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Georgia’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 | 37.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 630-750 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-34 |
| Enrollment | 32,137 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,879 |
SAT 630-750 Math and 640-730 Reading and ACT 29-34 composite indicate preparation at or above the 85th percentile. UGA is test-flexible but the typical admitted student has strong academic credentials. In-state Georgia students should evaluate HOPE Scholarship eligibility early - a 3.0 high school GPA qualifies for HOPE, and maintaining 3.0 in college preserves the award. For business and computing programs at Terry College and Engineering, competitive GPA within the major is required for direct admission; students who apply as undecided may face internal transfer competition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia (this school) | 88 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 94 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 87 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| San Diego State University | 84 | $15,364 | $64,909 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Georgia side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UGA admits 37.7% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 630-750 Math and 640-730 Reading; ACT composite 29-34. With 32,137 enrolled students and a 16.8% Pell grant rate, UGA serves a predominantly middle- and upper-income Georgia student body with strong academic preparation. The HOPE Scholarship, which covers in-state tuition for Georgia residents who maintain a 3.0 GPA, is the critical affordability mechanism: students who maintain HOPE eligibility pay dramatically less than the listed net price. UGA's value proposition is strongest for Terry College business students, CS and engineering students, and students with HOPE eligibility - the combination of selective admissions, flagship credential quality, and low cost at HOPE produces a strong ROI profile.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Georgia pays off. You'd pay about $13,936 a year after aid ($55,744 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,726 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 89.7% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $18,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, 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.
University of Georgia: Common Questions
Is University of Georgia worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Georgia pays off. It scores 88/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,936 a year after aid ($55,744 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,726 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.8 years to earn back.
How much does University of Georgia 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 $13,936 a year, or roughly $55,744 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 University of Georgia graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,726 ten years after enrolling, roughly $26,926 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 University of Georgia?
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 5.8 years for University of Georgia. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Georgia graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,500, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. 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 University of Georgia?
The six-year graduation rate is 89.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.