Head-to-head comparison
Spelman College vs Oglethorpe University: 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 Atlanta, GA
Oglethorpe University
- Net price / year
- $19,509
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,232
- Payback
- 11.4 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 Spelman College, on median earnings of $55,232 vs $59,993 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Spelman College | Oglethorpe University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,967 | $19,509 |
| Total net cost | $155,868 | $78,036 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,993 | $55,232 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 13.4 yrs | 11.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $76,792 | $59,404 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Spelman College or Oglethorpe University?
Oglethorpe University, at $19,509 a year after aid versus $38,967 — a gap of $19,458 a year, or $77,832 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 Oglethorpe University graduates earn more?
Spelman College graduates report a median $59,993 ten years after entry, $4,761 more than the $55,232 at Oglethorpe 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, Spelman College or Oglethorpe University?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at Spelman College, against 54% at Oglethorpe 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.