Head-to-head comparison
South University-Savannah Online vs Albany State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Savannah, GA
South University-Savannah Online
- Net price / year
- $28,049
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,421
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Albany, GA
Albany State University
- Net price / year
- $11,898
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,674
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Albany State University comes closer — median earnings $40,674 against a $47,592 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Savannah Online. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South University-Savannah Online | Albany State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,049 | $11,898 |
| Total net cost | $112,196 | $47,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,421 | $40,674 |
| Median debt | $26,123 | $25,024 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$390,976 | -$201,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South University-Savannah Online or Albany State University?
Albany State University, at $11,898 a year after aid versus $28,049 — a gap of $16,151 a year, or $64,604 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 South University-Savannah Online or Albany State University graduates earn more?
Albany State University graduates report a median $40,674 ten years after entry, $6,253 more than the $34,421 at South University-Savannah Online. 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, South University-Savannah Online or Albany State University?
Albany State University: its completers carry a median $25,024 in federal loans versus $26,123 at South University-Savannah Online, a difference of $1,099. 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?
31% of students finish at Albany State University, against 7% at South University-Savannah Online. 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.