Head-to-head comparison
Augusta University vs Covenant College: which has better ROI?
Option A Augusta, GA
Augusta University
- Net price / year
- $13,787
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,472
- Payback
- 492.4 yrs
Option B Lookout Mountain, GA
Covenant College
- Net price / year
- $26,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,412
- Payback
- 51.2 yrs
Covenant College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,060 in 51.2 years versus 492.4 years at Augusta University, on median earnings of $50,412 vs $48,472 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Augusta University | Covenant College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,787 | $26,265 |
| Total net cost | $55,148 | $105,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,472 | $50,412 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 492.4 yrs | 51.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$52,908 | -$64,020 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Augusta University or Covenant College?
Augusta University, at $13,787 a year after aid versus $26,265 — a gap of $12,478 a year, or $49,912 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 Augusta University or Covenant College graduates earn more?
Covenant College graduates report a median $50,412 ten years after entry, $1,940 more than the $48,472 at Augusta 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, Augusta University or Covenant College?
Augusta University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Covenant College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
71% of students finish at Covenant College, against 49% at Augusta 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.