Head-to-head comparison
Kennesaw State University vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus: which has better ROI?
Option A Kennesaw, GA
Kennesaw State University
- Net price / year
- $15,048
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,552
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Option B Atlanta, GA
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
- Net price / year
- $12,116
- Earnings, 10 years
- $102,772
- Payback
- 0.9 yrs
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $48,464 in 0.9 years versus 6.5 years at Kennesaw State University, on median earnings of $102,772 vs $57,552 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kennesaw State University | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,048 | $12,116 |
| Total net cost | $60,192 | $48,464 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,552 | $102,772 |
| Median debt | $23,833 | $21,672 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 0.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $123,648 | $1,039,776 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kennesaw State University or Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus?
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, at $12,116 a year after aid versus $15,048 — a gap of $2,932 a year, or $11,728 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 Kennesaw State University or Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus graduates earn more?
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus graduates report a median $102,772 ten years after entry, $45,220 more than the $57,552 at Kennesaw 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, Kennesaw State University or Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus?
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus: its completers carry a median $21,672 in federal loans versus $23,833 at Kennesaw State University, a difference of $2,161. 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?
94% of students finish at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, against 52% at Kennesaw 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.