University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia · Public · 67.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of North Georgia earns a Fair Value ROI score of 61, supported by very low in-state tuition and a strong earnings premium but dragged down by a low completion rate. In-state tuition is $5,285; net price after aid sits at $9,823, producing a 4-year published cost of just $39,292. Earnings reach $37,300 six years after entry, climbing to $50,135 at year 10. Earnings premium of 38.5% is strong (subscore 80). Median debt is modest at $17,750 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.476 (subscore 77). The persistent weakness is completion at 37.3% (subscore 17) - meaning nearly two-thirds of entering students don't finish, and the 11.8-year payback reflects the drag of incomplete or delayed credentials. For students who finish, this is a good-value option. For students at completion-risk (low math/reading prep, work conflicts), the open-access borrow-then-leave pattern is a real concern.
How University of North Georgia 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.
- 6-year graduation rate37.3% - 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.
University of North Georgia
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $5,285/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,503/yr |
| Average net price | $9,823/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $39,292 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,135 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $188 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 37.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 16,146 |
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: $5,285/year ($16,503/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 $9,823/year, or roughly $39,292 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 $6,981/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,481/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,750, which works out to about $188 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,300) and comes to 0.48, 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 | $6,981 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,261 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,118 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,059 |
| $110,001+ | $13,481 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $6,981 net annually, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $7,261. Across four years that's roughly $28,000-$29,000 - exceptional value for low-income Georgia students. Pell, Hope, and Zell Miller scholarships layer effectively, often producing near-zero net cost for academically qualified low-income residents.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $10,118, and $75,001-$110,000 climbs to $12,059. Total 4-year cost runs $40,000-$48,000 - still highly affordable. Middle-income Georgia residents who qualify for Zell Miller (3.7+ GPA) or Hope (3.0+ GPA) scholarships see further effective discounts. The math works strongly across the middle-income range.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $13,481 net annually, totaling roughly $54,000 across four years. Out-of-state full-pay families face $16,503 sticker tuition, which expands the range. With strong nursing, business, and CS pathways, the math works at full pay for in-state students.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of North Georgia with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,973 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $81,887 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,294 | C |
| Biology | $54,272 | C |
| Teacher Education | $50,102 | B |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $47,919 | D |
| Marketing | $61,155 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,813 | C+ |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $46,808 | - |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $90,765 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the standout program, with 164 graduates earning a B+ ROI grade. First-year earnings of $75,412 grow to $81,887 by year four against just $19,743 in debt - a 0.262 ratio. Georgia's healthcare labor market in metro Atlanta and the broader I-85 corridor sustains strong demand. For students choosing UNG, nursing is the most reliable high-ROI pathway.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration is the largest program with 194 graduates, earning a B grade. First-year earnings of $47,444 grow to $63,973 by year four against $21,052 in debt (0.444 ratio). The pathway feeds primarily into Georgia regional small-business management, accounting support roles, and corporate operations. Solid blue-collar professional outcomes at a low cost basis.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science earns a B grade with 81 graduates annually. First-year earnings of $54,133 jump strongly to $90,765 by year four, against $20,000 in debt (0.369 ratio). Atlanta's tech-employer ecosystem (Salesforce, Microsoft, Mailchimp/Intuit) supports robust placement.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 146 students with a B grade. First-year earnings of $46,099 grow modestly to $50,102 by year four against $19,500 in debt (0.423 ratio). Georgia teacher salaries are state-set and predictable; loan forgiveness via PSLF works well for borrowers in this track. The flat earnings curve reflects K-12 step-and-grade pay structures.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 80 graduates with a B+ grade. First-year earnings of $51,044 grow to $67,554 by year four against $16,650 in debt (0.326 ratio). Strong Atlanta-region banking and corporate-finance employer base. This is one of the stronger non-nursing tracks at UNG.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of North Georgia’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 | 67.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 16,146 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,231 |
UNG's admission rate of 67.9% reflects moderate selectivity. The relatively open admit policy combined with a 37.3% completion rate is a familiar pattern: students enter with widely varying preparation, and academic readiness drives whether borrowed money becomes a finished credential. UNG also operates a military senior-program track, which adds structure for cadet students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Georgia (this school) | 61 | $9,823 | $50,135 |
| Northern Illinois University | 66 | $13,391 | $57,808 |
| Wayne State University | 61 | $12,766 | $53,493 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | 59 | $20,109 | $54,967 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is large at 16,146 students with a Pell rate of 28.1% - a moderate-income student body. UNG fits Georgia residents with strong career direction in nursing, business, education, or military service (the Corps of Cadets is a flagship program). The low in-state tuition makes it among Georgia's strongest public-value picks for cost-conscious students with Hope/Zell Miller scholarship eligibility. Best-fit students are those with clear program direction; the 37.3% completion rate suggests undirected liberal-arts wanderers face real risk.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of North Georgia is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $9,823 a year after aid ($39,292 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $50,135 a decade out, the cost takes about 11.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 37.3% graduation rate.
Median debt of $17,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, 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 North Georgia: Common Questions
Is University of North Georgia worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of North Georgia is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,823 a year after aid ($39,292 over four years) against $50,135 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 11.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of North 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 $9,823 a year, or roughly $39,292 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 North Georgia graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $50,135 ten years after enrolling, roughly $8,335 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 North 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 11.8 years for University of North Georgia. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of North Georgia graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,750, against average earnings of $37,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. 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 North Georgia?
The six-year graduation rate is 37.3%. 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.