Head-to-head comparison
Athens Technical College vs Emmanuel University: 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 Franklin Springs, GA
Emmanuel University
- Net price / year
- $20,925
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,208
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Athens Technical College comes closer — median earnings $35,951 against a $27,796 total, vs $38,208 at Emmanuel University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Athens Technical College | Emmanuel University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,949 | $20,925 |
| Total net cost | $27,796 | $83,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,951 | $38,208 |
| Median debt | — | $24,325 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$275,976 | -$286,740 |
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 Emmanuel University?
Athens Technical College, at $6,949 a year after aid versus $20,925 — a gap of $13,976 a year, or $55,904 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 Emmanuel University graduates earn more?
Emmanuel University graduates report a median $38,208 ten years after entry, $2,257 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 42% at Emmanuel 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.