Head-to-head comparison
Albany State University vs Life University: 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
Life University
- Net price / year
- $29,791
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,397
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Life University comes closer — median earnings $47,397 against a $119,164 total, vs $40,674 at Albany State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany State University | Life University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,898 | $29,791 |
| Total net cost | $47,592 | $119,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,674 | $47,397 |
| Median debt | $25,024 | $16,666 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,312 | -$138,424 |
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 Life University?
Albany State University, at $11,898 a year after aid versus $29,791 — a gap of $17,893 a year, or $71,572 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 Life University graduates earn more?
Life University graduates report a median $47,397 ten years after entry, $6,723 more than the $40,674 at Albany State University. 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 Life University?
Life University: its completers carry a median $16,666 in federal loans versus $25,024 at Albany State University, a difference of $8,358. 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?
38% of students finish at Life University, 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.