Head-to-head comparison
Columbus State University vs Albany Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Columbus, GA
Columbus State University
- Net price / year
- $13,115
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,544
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Albany, GA
Albany Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,524
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,541
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbus State University comes closer — median earnings $44,544 against a $52,460 total, vs $30,541 at Albany Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus State University | Albany Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,115 | $4,524 |
| Total net cost | $52,460 | $18,096 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,544 | $30,541 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $12,412 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$128,780 | -$374,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbus State University or Albany Technical College?
Albany Technical College, at $4,524 a year after aid versus $13,115 — a gap of $8,591 a year, or $34,364 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 Columbus State University or Albany Technical College graduates earn more?
Columbus State University graduates report a median $44,544 ten years after entry, $14,003 more than the $30,541 at Albany Technical 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, Columbus State University or Albany Technical College?
Albany Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,412 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Columbus State University, a difference of $13,588. 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?
42% of students finish at Albany Technical College, against 42% at Columbus State 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.