Head-to-head comparison
Dalton State College vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: 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 Atlanta, GA
American InterContinental University-Atlanta
- Net price / year
- $16,482
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- 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 $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dalton State College | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,012 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | $20,048 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,251 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $12,937 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$182,228 | -$310,248 |
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 American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Dalton State College, at $5,012 a year after aid versus $16,482 — a gap of $11,470 a year, or $45,880 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 American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
Dalton State College graduates report a median $40,251 ten years after entry, $4,107 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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 American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Dalton State College: its completers carry a median $12,937 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, a difference of $18,063. 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?
25% of students finish at Dalton State College, against 21% at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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.