Gordon State College

Barnesville, GA 2,544 Undergrads 26.1% Grad Rate

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Total Cost

$14,771

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$8,105

After Aid

Median Earnings

$47,316

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,105

Peer Midpoint: $9,847

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$47,316

Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5

Graduation Rate26.1%

Peer Midpoint: 34.6%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients56.7%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time65.8%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS55.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

85.9%

SAT Avg

1,023

SAT Reading

25th: 45051075th: 590

SAT Math

25th: 44048075th: 540

ACT Composite

25th: 152075th: 24

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$506k

-$10k

+$22k

Median Cost$8k/yr

+$491k

-$25k

+$7k

Full Cost$15k/yr

+$479k

-$37k

-$6k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$8k/yr

45%

Full Cost$15k/yr

Never

-21%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return78%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-19%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Associate's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations

AssocCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$14,250

Earnings (4yr)

$51,210

Natl Median: $48,733

Lifetime Value Added

+$45k

Chemistry

AssocCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,597

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

AssocCIP: 0901

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $43,243

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

AssocCIP: 1110

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,726

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

AssocCIP: 4301

Median Debt

$11,676

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,706

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

AssocCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $31,773

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

AssocCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$15,740

Earnings (4yr)

$41,691

Natl Median: $44,125

Lifetime Value Added

-$50k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

AssocCIP: 1601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $37,796

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

AssocCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $34,056

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

AssocCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$17,500

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,288

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

AssocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$12,750

Earnings (4yr)

$79,536

Natl Median: $80,813

Lifetime Value Added

+$307k

Sociology

AssocCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $44,144

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Visual and Performing Arts, General

AssocCIP: 5001

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $32,799

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$50,699

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$54k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

$17,500

Earnings (4yr)

$54,940

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

-$19k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

BachCIP: 5107

Median Debt

$31,000

Earnings (4yr)

$40,799

Natl Median: $58,716

Lifetime Value Added

-$138k

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$29,012

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

-$245k

Human Services, General

BachCIP: 4400

Median Debt

$27,268

Earnings (4yr)

$44,286

Natl Median: $48,597

Lifetime Value Added

-$108k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General

BachCIP: 3000

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,532

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$17,500

Earnings (4yr)

$82,747

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$198k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$20,898

Earnings (4yr)

$46,514

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$89k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.