Best College ROI in Ga 2026
63 colleges in Ga analyzed for return on investment. Strayer University-Georgia leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ga has 63 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 27 public institutions and 36 private ones. Across the 63 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $83K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
98% of Ga colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Strayer University-Georgia (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ga
Strayer University-Georgia
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ga's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $4K in median debt.
Dalton State College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Georgia Gwinnett College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $19K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ga
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strayer University-Georgia(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Dalton State College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Georgia Gwinnett College(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | Gordon State College(public) | Mathematics | $18K | $78K | A (97) |
| 5 | University of North Georgia(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 6 | Albany State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Augusta University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Berry College(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 9 | College of Coastal Georgia(public) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 10 | Covenant College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 11 | Emmanuel University(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | Fort Valley State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Georgia College & State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 14 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 15 | Georgia Southern University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 16 | Georgia Southwestern State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 17 | Georgia State University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 18 | Kennesaw State University(public) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 19 | University of Georgia(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 20 | Agnes Scott College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Ga is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strayer University-Georgia has the best ROI in Ga with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $4K in median debt.
Across 63 Ga colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $83K.
Strayer University-Georgia graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ga has 63 colleges in our database (27 public, 36 private). Of the 63 with reportable ROI, 98% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).