Head-to-head comparison
Dalton State College vs Albany Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Dalton, GA
Dalton State College
- Net price / year
- $5,012
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,251
- 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 Dalton State College comes closer — median earnings $40,251 against a $20,048 total, vs $30,541 at Albany Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dalton State College | Albany Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,012 | $4,524 |
| Total net cost | $20,048 | $18,096 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,251 | $30,541 |
| Median debt | $12,937 | $12,412 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$182,228 | -$374,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dalton State College or Albany Technical College?
Albany Technical College, at $4,524 a year after aid versus $5,012 — a gap of $488 a year, or $1,952 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 Dalton State College or Albany Technical College graduates earn more?
Dalton State College graduates report a median $40,251 ten years after entry, $9,710 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, Dalton State College or Albany Technical College?
Albany Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,412 in federal loans versus $12,937 at Dalton State College, a difference of $525. 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 25% at Dalton State 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.