Head-to-head comparison
Albany State University vs Paine College: 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 Augusta, GA
Paine College
- Net price / year
- $16,670
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,338
- 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 $33,338 at Paine College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Albany State University | Paine College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,898 | $16,670 |
| Total net cost | $47,592 | $66,680 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,674 | $33,338 |
| Median debt | $25,024 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$201,312 | -$367,120 |
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 Paine College?
Albany State University, at $11,898 a year after aid versus $16,670 — a gap of $4,772 a year, or $19,088 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 Paine College graduates earn more?
Albany State University graduates report a median $40,674 ten years after entry, $7,336 more than the $33,338 at Paine College. 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 graduates more of its students?
31% of students finish at Albany State University, against 14% at Paine College. 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.