Head-to-head comparison
Oglethorpe University vs Brenau University: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Oglethorpe University
- Net price / year
- $19,509
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,232
- Payback
- 11.4 yrs
Option B Gainesville, GA
Brenau University
- Net price / year
- $18,924
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,003
- Payback
- 13.4 yrs
Oglethorpe University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,036 in 11.4 years versus 13.4 years at Brenau University, on median earnings of $55,232 vs $54,003 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oglethorpe University | Brenau University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,509 | $18,924 |
| Total net cost | $78,036 | $75,696 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,232 | $54,003 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.4 yrs | 13.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $59,404 | $37,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oglethorpe University or Brenau University?
Brenau University, at $18,924 a year after aid versus $19,509 — a gap of $585 a year, or $2,340 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 Oglethorpe University or Brenau University graduates earn more?
Oglethorpe University graduates report a median $55,232 ten years after entry, $1,229 more than the $54,003 at Brenau 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, Oglethorpe University or Brenau University?
Oglethorpe University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Brenau University, a difference of $2,000. 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?
54% of students finish at Oglethorpe University, against 33% at Brenau 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.