Head-to-head comparison
Brenau University vs LaGrange College: which has better ROI?
Option A Gainesville, GA
Brenau University
- Net price / year
- $18,924
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,003
- Payback
- 13.4 yrs
Option B Lagrange, GA
LaGrange College
- Net price / year
- $20,875
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,745
- Payback
- 24.7 yrs
Brenau University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,696 in 13.4 years versus 24.7 years at LaGrange College, on median earnings of $54,003 vs $51,745 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brenau University | LaGrange College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,924 | $20,875 |
| Total net cost | $75,696 | $83,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,003 | $51,745 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,730 |
| Payback | 13.4 yrs | 24.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $37,164 | -$15,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Brenau University or LaGrange College?
Brenau University, at $18,924 a year after aid versus $20,875 — a gap of $1,951 a year, or $7,804 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 Brenau University or LaGrange College graduates earn more?
Brenau University graduates report a median $54,003 ten years after entry, $2,258 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, Brenau University or LaGrange College?
LaGrange College: its completers carry a median $25,730 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Brenau University, a difference of $1,270. 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?
47% of students finish at LaGrange 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.