Head-to-head comparison
Augusta University vs Piedmont University: 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 Demorest, GA
Piedmont University
- Net price / year
- $20,599
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,130
- Payback
- 107 yrs
Piedmont University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,396 in 107 years versus 492.4 years at Augusta University, on median earnings of $49,130 vs $48,472 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Augusta University | Piedmont University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,787 | $20,599 |
| Total net cost | $55,148 | $82,396 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,472 | $49,130 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 492.4 yrs | 107 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$52,908 | -$66,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Augusta University or Piedmont University?
Augusta University, at $13,787 a year after aid versus $20,599 — a gap of $6,812 a year, or $27,248 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 Piedmont University graduates earn more?
Piedmont University graduates report a median $49,130 ten years after entry, $658 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 Piedmont University?
Augusta University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Piedmont University, a difference of $4,500. 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?
49% of students finish at Augusta University, against 47% at Piedmont 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.