Head-to-head comparison
Emory University vs Georgia College & State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Emory University
- Net price / year
- $22,585
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,137
- Payback
- 2.8 yrs
Option B Milledgeville, GA
Georgia College & State University
- Net price / year
- $20,686
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,140
- Payback
- 8.5 yrs
Emory University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $90,340 in 2.8 years versus 8.5 years at Georgia College & State University, on median earnings of $80,137 vs $58,140 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Emory University | Georgia College & State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,585 | $20,686 |
| Total net cost | $90,340 | $82,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,137 | $58,140 |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $22,250 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 8.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $545,200 | $112,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Emory University or Georgia College & State University?
Georgia College & State University, at $20,686 a year after aid versus $22,585 — a gap of $1,899 a year, or $7,596 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 Emory University or Georgia College & State University graduates earn more?
Emory University graduates report a median $80,137 ten years after entry, $21,997 more than the $58,140 at Georgia College & State University. 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, Emory University or Georgia College & State University?
Emory University: its completers carry a median $18,250 in federal loans versus $22,250 at Georgia College & State University, a difference of $4,000. 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?
91% of students finish at Emory University, against 64% at Georgia College & 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.