Head-to-head comparison
Berry College vs Brenau University: which has better ROI?
Option A Mount Berry, GA
Berry College
- Net price / year
- $22,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,800
- Payback
- 16.4 yrs
Option B Gainesville, GA
Brenau University
- Net price / year
- $18,924
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,003
- Payback
- 13.4 yrs
Brenau University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,696 in 13.4 years versus 16.4 years at Berry College, on median earnings of $54,003 vs $53,800 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berry College | Brenau University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,320 | $18,924 |
| Total net cost | $89,280 | $75,696 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,800 | $54,003 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 16.4 yrs | 13.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,520 | $37,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Berry College or Brenau University?
Brenau University, at $18,924 a year after aid versus $22,320 — a gap of $3,396 a year, or $13,584 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 Berry College or Brenau University graduates earn more?
Brenau University graduates report a median $54,003 ten years after entry, $203 more than the $53,800 at Berry 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 leaves students with less debt, Berry College or Brenau University?
Berry College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Brenau University, a difference of $3,750. 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?
69% of students finish at Berry College, against 33% at Brenau 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.