Head-to-head comparison
Albany State University vs Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Albany, GA
Albany State University
- Net price / year
- $11,898
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,674
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Marietta, GA
Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus
- Net price / year
- $33,966
- Earnings, 10 years
- $25,373
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Albany State University comes closer — median earnings $40,674 against a $47,592 total, vs $25,373 at Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany State University | Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,898 | $33,966 |
| Total net cost | $47,592 | $135,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,674 | $25,373 |
| Median debt | $25,024 | $12,498 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,312 | -$595,604 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Albany State University or Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus?
Albany State University, at $11,898 a year after aid versus $33,966 — a gap of $22,068 a year, or $88,272 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Albany State University or Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus graduates earn more?
Albany State University graduates report a median $40,674 ten years after entry, $15,301 more than the $25,373 at Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Albany State University or Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus?
Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus: its completers carry a median $12,498 in federal loans versus $25,024 at Albany State University, a difference of $12,526. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
31% of students finish at Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus, against 31% at Albany State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.