Head-to-head comparison
Kennesaw State University vs Georgia Southern University: 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 Statesboro, GA
Georgia Southern University
- Net price / year
- $15,267
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,236
- Payback
- 12.5 yrs
Kennesaw State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $60,192 in 6.5 years versus 12.5 years at Georgia Southern University, on median earnings of $57,552 vs $53,236 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kennesaw State University | Georgia Southern University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,048 | $15,267 |
| Total net cost | $60,192 | $61,068 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,552 | $53,236 |
| Median debt | $23,833 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 12.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $123,648 | $36,452 |
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 Southern University?
Kennesaw State University, at $15,048 a year after aid versus $15,267 — a gap of $219 a year, or $876 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 Southern University graduates earn more?
Kennesaw State University graduates report a median $57,552 ten years after entry, $4,316 more than the $53,236 at Georgia Southern 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 Southern University?
Georgia Southern University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $23,833 at Kennesaw State University, a difference of $583. 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?
55% of students finish at Georgia Southern University, 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.