Head-to-head comparison
Spelman College vs LaGrange College: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Spelman College
- Net price / year
- $38,967
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,993
- Payback
- 13.4 yrs
Option B Lagrange, GA
LaGrange College
- Net price / year
- $20,875
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,745
- Payback
- 24.7 yrs
Spelman College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $155,868 in 13.4 years versus 24.7 years at LaGrange College, on median earnings of $59,993 vs $51,745 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Spelman College | LaGrange College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,967 | $20,875 |
| Total net cost | $155,868 | $83,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,993 | $51,745 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,730 |
| Payback | 13.4 yrs | 24.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $76,792 | -$15,800 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Spelman College or LaGrange College?
LaGrange College, at $20,875 a year after aid versus $38,967 — a gap of $18,092 a year, or $72,368 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 Spelman College or LaGrange College graduates earn more?
Spelman College graduates report a median $59,993 ten years after entry, $8,248 more than the $51,745 at LaGrange 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 leaves students with less debt, Spelman College or LaGrange College?
Spelman College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,730 at LaGrange College, a difference of $730. 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?
78% of students finish at Spelman College, against 47% at LaGrange 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.