Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia · Public · 72.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 42/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Valdosta State University scores 42 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale despite a low $10,945 net price. The 42.4% completion rate is the defining liability - fewer than half of entering students graduate. The repayment rate of 53.6% at three years is critically low, with a score of 11 - the worst sub-score in the profile. Average 6-year earnings of $33,200 against $10,945 net price would suggest a short payback, but the 12.8-year payback and 0.746 debt-to-earnings ratio reflect the combined effect of low completion and slow debt repayment. Registered Nursing (91 graduates, $71,395 year-one, ROI grade B) and Computer and Information Sciences (29 graduates, $62,074 year-one, ROI grade C+) are the two programs that produce strong outcomes. Business Administration (223 graduates, $41,377 year-one, ROI grade D) is the largest program with a weak outcome. Psychology (156 graduates, F grade), Health Sciences General (125 graduates, F grade), and Communication and Media Studies (94 graduates, F grade) are high-volume poor performers.
How Valdosta 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 Score42/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Valdosta State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,124/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,836/yr |
| Average net price | $10,945/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,780 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,361 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,779 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $263 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,622 |
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: $6,124/year ($17,836/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 $10,945/year, or roughly $43,780 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 $9,378/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,905/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,779, which works out to about $263 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,200) and comes to 0.75, 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 | $9,378 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,541 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,877 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,906 |
| $110,001+ | $15,905 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $9,378 per year at VSU - a very low net price. Four-year cost around $37,500 against $33,200 average 6-year earnings would appear favorable, but the 42.4% completion rate means a majority of students in this income bracket do not graduate. Low-income students who do not complete leave with debt but no degree. Nursing or computer science enrollment substantially improves the financial case; general business or social science tracks do not justify the risk even at this low price.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $11,877, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $14,906. At $12,000-$15,000 per year, four-year costs of $47,000-$60,000 are low for any institution. The cost is defensible; the 42.4% completion rate is not. Middle-income families should treat VSU's low net price as a conditional advantage - conditional on the student being in a high-completion, high-earnings program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $15,905 per year. Four-year cost around $64,000 is very low for a four-year degree. High-income families choosing VSU are typically making a cost-driven decision, and the data supports that logic only if the student graduates.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Valdosta State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,047 | D |
| Psychology | $47,285 | F |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $28,490 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $40,044 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,880 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $77,890 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,593 | D |
| Biology | $51,991 | D |
| Teacher Education | $46,155 | C |
| Marketing | $59,865 | C |
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 VSU's strongest program: 91 graduates, $71,395 year-one, $77,890 at year four, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.382 with $27,301 median debt. South Georgia nursing wages are below metro Atlanta levels, which explains the $71k figure. The B grade reflects a solid debt-adjusted outcome for a public regional nursing program. Students who complete nursing at VSU enter a Georgia healthcare market with consistent employment demand. This is the clearest financial pathway at the institution.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences produces 29 graduates with $62,074 year-one and $75,310 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.459 with $28,500 median debt. Year-one earnings of $62k at a public institution with a $10,945 net price is a strong outcome relative to cost. The four-year trajectory to $75k shows consistent career advancement. The small cohort (29 graduates) limits statistical confidence but the directional signal is positive.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program with 223 graduates, $41,377 year-one, $56,047 at year four, D ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.725 with $30,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $41k against $30,000 in debt at a public institution with a $10,945 net price produces a weak outcome. The D grade reflects the outsized debt relative to regional business earnings. Students should compare this against specific concentrations before enrolling in the general business track.
Psychology
Psychology enrolls 156 graduates - VSU's second-largest cohort - with an F ROI grade: $26,448 year-one, $47,285 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.021 with $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $26k against $27,000 in debt at a public institution is a very poor financial outcome. Debt-to-earnings above 1.0 means median debt exceeds an entire year of early earnings. Psychology at VSU functions primarily as a graduate school pipeline; students who do not proceed to funded graduate programs face serious debt management challenges.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Sciences General enrolls 125 graduates with an F ROI grade: $28,490 year-one, Scorecard does not report year-four earnings, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.088 with $31,000 median debt. The $31,000 median debt suggests heavy borrowing relative to expected returns. This cohort likely includes pre-clinical students not yet earning professional wages, but the debt load makes the standalone credential financially difficult to service.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 47.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 53.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 49.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Valdosta State University’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 | 72.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-530 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-22 |
| Enrollment | 6,622 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 52.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,606 |
Valdosta State admits 72.3% of applicants. SAT 440-530 Math and 480-570 Reading and ACT 16-22 describe a broad, accessible academic bar. Most applicants who meet basic requirements gain admission. The 42.4% completion rate is the more consequential number - admission is easy but graduation is not. Prospective students should focus on what supports completion rather than on admission likelihood.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The completion rate is the bottleneck suppressing the overall ROI score.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta State University (this school) | 42 | $10,945 | $49,361 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | 35 | $15,882 | $44,030 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 20 | $6,842 | $34,996 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
Who Thrives Here
Valdosta State admits 72.3% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 440-530 Math and 480-570 Reading; ACT composite 16-22. Enrollment is 6,622. The Pell grant rate of 52.3% is high, indicating a majority lower-income student body. VSU serves a broad regional population in South Georgia. The 42.4% completion rate is the most critical metric for prospective students. Students entering VSU should do so with a clear program commitment, preferably in nursing or technology, where outcomes justify the enrollment. Students without a declared high-outcome major face high attrition and debt risk.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Valdosta State University scores 42/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $10,945 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $49,361 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 12.8 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: its 42.4% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 53.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $24,779 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75. 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.
Valdosta State University: Common Questions
Is Valdosta State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Valdosta State University scores 42/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $10,945 a year after aid against $49,361 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 12.8 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Valdosta 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 $10,945 a year, or roughly $43,780 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 Valdosta State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,361 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,561 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 Valdosta 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 12.8 years for Valdosta State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Valdosta State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,779, against average earnings of $33,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75. 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 Valdosta State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 42.4%. 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.