Head-to-head comparison
Columbus State University vs Athens 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 Athens, GA
Athens Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,949
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,951
- 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 $35,951 at Athens Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus State University | Athens Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,115 | $6,949 |
| Total net cost | $52,460 | $27,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,544 | $35,951 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$128,780 | -$275,976 |
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 Athens Technical College?
Athens Technical College, at $6,949 a year after aid versus $13,115 — a gap of $6,166 a year, or $24,664 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 Athens Technical College graduates earn more?
Columbus State University graduates report a median $44,544 ten years after entry, $8,593 more than the $35,951 at Athens 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 graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Athens 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.