Athens, GA · Private University
Is University of Georgia Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$68,726
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$11,180
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$30,220
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$120,880
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.27x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.6 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
87.2%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$18,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$13,816
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of Georgia graduates earn $23,726 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 University of Georgia ranked by graduate earnings
252 graduates
66 graduates
223 graduates
428 graduates
31 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of Georgia
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of Georgia, the gap between the highest-earning major (Management Information Systems and Services: $92,014) and the lowest (Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology: $25,724) is $66,290/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Management Information Systems and ServicesBest ROI | $92,014 | 3.0x |
| International Business | $90,029 | 3.0x |
| Computer Science | $88,172 | 2.9x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $81,652 | 2.7x |
| Computer Engineering(1yr data) | $77,882 | 2.6x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $76,767 | 2.5x |
| Insurance | $76,315 | 2.5x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $76,298 | 2.5x |
| Real Estate | $76,036 | 2.5x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $74,548 | 2.5x |
| Mechanical Engineering(1yr data) | $73,872 | 2.4x |
| Civil Engineering(1yr data) | $73,327 | 2.4x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering(1yr data) | $73,307 | 2.4x |
| Statistics | $70,287 | 2.3x |
| Economics | $68,386 | 2.3x |
| Biochemical Engineering(1yr data) | $67,201 | 2.2x |
| Marketing | $66,940 | 2.2x |
| Genetics | $63,674 | 2.1x |
| Mathematics | $63,502 | 2.1x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $63,445 | 2.1x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering(1yr data) | $62,915 | 2.1x |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering(1yr data) | $62,842 | 2.1x |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $62,187 | 2.1x |
| Business/Commerce, General(1yr data) | $60,895 | 2.0x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $60,787 | 2.0x |
| Landscape Architecture | $60,412 | 2.0x |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $60,003 | 2.0x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $59,226 | 2.0x |
| Forestry | $58,005 | 1.9x |
| Public Health | $57,204 | 1.9x |
| Cognitive Science | $55,867 | 1.9x |
| Housing and Human Environments | $55,823 | 1.9x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $54,482 | 1.8x |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $53,479 | 1.8x |
| Political Science and Government | $53,229 | 1.8x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $53,201 | 1.8x |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $52,377 | 1.7x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $51,806 | 1.7x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $51,416 | 1.7x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,314 | 1.7x |
| Journalism | $50,896 | 1.7x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,643 | 1.7x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $48,992 | 1.6x |
| Geography and Cartography | $47,688 | 1.6x |
| Special Education and Teaching | $47,248 | 1.6x |
| Psychology, General | $46,847 | 1.6x |
| History | $46,459 | 1.5x |
| Biology, General | $46,253 | 1.5x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $46,008 | 1.5x |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | $45,651 | 1.5x |
| Animal Sciences | $45,450 | 1.5x |
| Sociology | $44,855 | 1.5x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,537 | 1.5x |
| Chemistry | $43,693 | 1.4x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,747 | 1.4x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $40,931 | 1.4x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $40,821 | 1.4x |
| Plant Sciences(1yr data) | $40,794 | 1.4x |
| Social Work | $40,773 | 1.4x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $40,290 | 1.3x |
| Anthropology | $37,575 | 1.2x |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $35,854 | 1.2x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $35,389 | 1.2x |
| Music | $34,185 | 1.1x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyLowest(1yr data) | $25,724 | 0.8x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia | 2.27x | $68,726 | Strong ROI |
| Clemson University | 1.81x | $71,513 | Good ROI |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 2.16x | $68,758 | Strong ROI |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 1.88x | $60,249 | Good ROI |
| Auburn University | 1.93x | $65,337 | Good ROI |
| Florida State University | 3.28x | $61,675 | Strong ROI |
The Bottom Line
University of Georgia stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $68,726 10 years after starting — $23,726 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.6 years — faster than most colleges.
Ready to apply to University of Georgia?
See your odds of admission based on your GPA and test scores.
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.