Head-to-head comparison
Berry College vs LaGrange College: 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 Lagrange, GA
LaGrange College
- Net price / year
- $20,875
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,745
- Payback
- 24.7 yrs
Berry College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,280 in 16.4 years versus 24.7 years at LaGrange College, on median earnings of $53,800 vs $51,745 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Berry College | LaGrange College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,320 | $20,875 |
| Total net cost | $89,280 | $83,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,800 | $51,745 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $25,730 |
| Payback | 16.4 yrs | 24.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,520 | -$15,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Berry College or LaGrange College?
LaGrange College, at $20,875 a year after aid versus $22,320 — a gap of $1,445 a year, or $5,780 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 LaGrange College graduates earn more?
Berry College graduates report a median $53,800 ten years after entry, $2,055 more than the $51,745 at LaGrange 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 LaGrange College?
Berry College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,730 at LaGrange College, a difference of $2,480. 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 47% at LaGrange College. 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.