Head-to-head comparison
Covenant College vs LaGrange College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lookout Mountain, GA
Covenant College
- Net price / year
- $26,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,412
- Payback
- 51.2 yrs
Option B Lagrange, GA
LaGrange College
- Net price / year
- $20,875
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,745
- Payback
- 24.7 yrs
LaGrange College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,500 in 24.7 years versus 51.2 years at Covenant College, on median earnings of $51,745 vs $50,412 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Covenant College | LaGrange College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,265 | $20,875 |
| Total net cost | $105,060 | $83,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,412 | $51,745 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $25,730 |
| Payback | 51.2 yrs | 24.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$64,020 | -$15,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Covenant College or LaGrange College?
LaGrange College, at $20,875 a year after aid versus $26,265 — a gap of $5,390 a year, or $21,560 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 Covenant College or LaGrange College graduates earn more?
LaGrange College graduates report a median $51,745 ten years after entry, $1,333 more than the $50,412 at Covenant 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, Covenant College or LaGrange College?
Covenant College: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $25,730 at LaGrange College, a difference of $3,230. 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?
71% of students finish at Covenant 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.