Statesboro, GA · Private University
Is Georgia Southern University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$53,236
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$5,905
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$16,959
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$67,836
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.14x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.7 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
52.0%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$23,250
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$16,531
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Georgia Southern University graduates earn $8,236 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Georgia Southern University ranked by graduate earnings
147 graduates
57 graduates
19 graduates
119 graduates
87 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Georgia Southern University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Georgia Southern University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Construction Engineering Technologies: $86,837) and the lowest (Communication Disorders Sciences and Services: $26,396) is $60,441/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Engineering TechnologiesBest ROI | $86,837 | 5.1x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $84,546 | 5.0x |
| Manufacturing Engineering(1yr data) | $83,438 | 4.9x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $83,106 | 4.9x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $80,857 | 4.8x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $75,972 | 4.5x |
| Information Science/Studies | $71,263 | 4.2x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $69,167 | 4.1x |
| Civil Engineering | $68,706 | 4.0x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $66,265 | 3.9x |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $64,203 | 3.8x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $61,615 | 3.6x |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $61,026 | 3.6x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $58,542 | 3.5x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $58,087 | 3.4x |
| Chemistry | $56,744 | 3.4x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $56,461 | 3.3x |
| Marketing | $54,454 | 3.2x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $51,716 | 3.0x |
| Mathematics | $51,232 | 3.0x |
| Political Science and Government | $50,584 | 3.0x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $48,787 | 2.9x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,234 | 2.8x |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $47,021 | 2.8x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,726 | 2.8x |
| Journalism | $44,314 | 2.6x |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | $43,892 | 2.6x |
| Biology, General | $42,504 | 2.5x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,793 | 2.5x |
| Psychology, General | $41,344 | 2.4x |
| Public Health | $41,112 | 2.4x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $40,745 | 2.4x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $40,388 | 2.4x |
| History | $39,698 | 2.3x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $38,555 | 2.3x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $38,097 | 2.3x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $37,328 | 2.2x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $37,138 | 2.2x |
| Criminology(1yr data) | $35,588 | 2.1x |
| Sociology | $34,970 | 2.1x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(1yr data) | $33,408 | 2.0x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $31,906 | 1.9x |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General(1yr data) | $31,582 | 1.9x |
| Apparel and Textiles | $31,386 | 1.9x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $29,486 | 1.7x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesLowest(1yr data) | $26,396 | 1.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
Georgia Southern University stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $53,236 10 years after starting, $8,236 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.7 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.