Head-to-head comparison
Valdosta State University vs Piedmont University: which has better ROI?
Option A Valdosta, GA
Valdosta State University
- Net price / year
- $10,945
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,361
- Payback
- 43.7 yrs
Option B Demorest, GA
Piedmont University
- Net price / year
- $20,599
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,130
- Payback
- 107 yrs
Valdosta State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $43,780 in 43.7 years versus 107 years at Piedmont University, on median earnings of $49,361 vs $49,130 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Valdosta State University | Piedmont University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,945 | $20,599 |
| Total net cost | $43,780 | $82,396 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,361 | $49,130 |
| Median debt | $24,779 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 43.7 yrs | 107 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$23,760 | -$66,996 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Valdosta State University or Piedmont University?
Valdosta State University, at $10,945 a year after aid versus $20,599 — a gap of $9,654 a year, or $38,616 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 Valdosta State University or Piedmont University graduates earn more?
Valdosta State University graduates report a median $49,361 ten years after entry, $231 more than the $49,130 at Piedmont 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, Valdosta State University or Piedmont University?
Valdosta State University: its completers carry a median $24,779 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Piedmont University, a difference of $221. 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?
47% of students finish at Piedmont University, against 42% at Valdosta 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.