Head-to-head comparison
Athens Technical College vs College of Coastal Georgia: which has better ROI?
Option A Athens, GA
Athens Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,949
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,951
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Brunswick, GA
College of Coastal Georgia
- Net price / year
- $15,261
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,318
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of Coastal Georgia comes closer — median earnings $39,318 against a $30,522 total, vs $35,951 at Athens Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Athens Technical College | College of Coastal Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,949 | $15,261 |
| Total net cost | $27,796 | $30,522 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,951 | $39,318 |
| Median debt | — | $15,039 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$275,976 | -$211,362 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Athens Technical College or College of Coastal Georgia?
Athens Technical College, at $6,949 a year after aid versus $15,261 — a gap of $8,312 a year, or $2,726 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 Athens Technical College or College of Coastal Georgia graduates earn more?
College of Coastal Georgia graduates report a median $39,318 ten years after entry, $3,367 more than the $35,951 at Athens Technical 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?
51% of students finish at Athens Technical College, against 26% at College of Coastal Georgia. 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.