Head-to-head comparison
Georgia State University-Perimeter College vs Athens Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
- Net price / year
- $11,453
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,384
- 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 Georgia State University-Perimeter College comes closer — median earnings $47,384 against a $22,906 total, vs $35,951 at Athens Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Georgia State University-Perimeter College | Athens Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,453 | $6,949 |
| Total net cost | $22,906 | $27,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,384 | $35,951 |
| Median debt | $20,903 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$42,426 | -$275,976 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Georgia State University-Perimeter College or Athens Technical College?
Athens Technical College, at $6,949 a year after aid versus $11,453 — a gap of $4,504 a year, or $4,890 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 Georgia State University-Perimeter College or Athens Technical College graduates earn more?
Georgia State University-Perimeter College graduates report a median $47,384 ten years after entry, $11,433 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 22% at Georgia State University-Perimeter 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.