Rome, Georgia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Rome, Georgia: median public in-state tuition $4,950 (-13.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $51,757 (-12.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $13,500 (0.0% vs U.S.) 10,033 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Rome serve students across Georgia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 10,033 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $4,950. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Rome, Georgia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Rome vs Georgia & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome, Georgia | $4,950 | $5,521 | $13,500 | 32.5% | 10,033 |
| Georgia (state median) | $4,282 | $8,870 | $16,495 | 42.0% | 426,705 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Rome, Georgia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome, Georgia | $51,757 | 91.0% | 60.5% | 9.7% | — | 45.4% | 0.48 |
| Georgia (state median) | $51,830 | 91.4% | 70.9% | 7.3% | — | 56.6% | 0.42 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
Other cities in Georgia (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome, Georgia | $4,950 | $5,521 | $13,500 | 32.5% | 10,033 | $51,757 | 91.0% |
| Atlanta | $18,168 | $19,323 | $19,500 | 51.0% | 85,633 | $60,002 | 90.0% |
| Kennesaw | $5,808 | $15,724 | $15,666 | 50.1% | 41,415 | $62,766 | 92.0% |
| Athens | $7,441 | $13,636 | $12,884 | 89.1% | 35,655 | $77,246 | 95.0% |
| Athens | $7,441 | $13,636 | $12,884 | 89.1% | 35,655 | $77,246 | 95.0% |
| Savannah | $18,145 | $21,831 | $26,000 | 21.6% | 28,272 | $41,747 | 87.8% |
| Statesboro | $4,374 | $11,296 | $11,525 | 53.6% | 23,610 | $59,167 | 92.9% |
| Lawrenceville | $4,028 | $14,853 | $11,456 | 21.8% | 20,319 | $48,736 | 91.1% |
| Lawrenceville | $4,028 | $14,853 | $11,456 | 21.8% | 20,319 | $48,736 | 91.1% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Rome, Georgia by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 44.8%, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.0%, Shorter University
Shorter University
Most selective college in Rome, Georgia (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 96.5%, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $81,170, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $75,924, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,591, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,746, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,757, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $155,974, Shorter University
Shorter University
Most affordable college in Rome, Georgia (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $18,008, Shorter University
Shorter University
Top college in Rome, Georgia by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 60.5%, Shorter University
Shorter University
In-state tuition: Rome, Georgia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Rome, Georgia median in-state tuition is $4,950, -13.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Rome, Georgia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Rome, Georgia is $13,500 (0.0% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $15,558.
Median earnings (10 years out): Rome, Georgia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Rome, Georgia center around $51,757 (-12.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Rome, Georgia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.0% at the median Rome, Georgia campus (-2.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Rome, Georgia median public in-state tuition is $4,950, about -13.2% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is -4.0%.
Median graduate debt is $13,500 (0.0% below the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Rome, Georgia are $51,757, about -12.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 91.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-2.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 60.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 45.4% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Shorter University (91.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Rome, Georgia is 32.5% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Rome?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Rome, Georgia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Rome?
Median in-state tuition in Rome is $4,950 and median net price is $5,521. For Georgia overall, medians are $4,282 and $8,870; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Rome?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Rome is $51,757 vs $51,830 for Georgia and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Rome colleges?
Median completer debt in Rome is $13,500 vs $16,495 for Georgia and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Rome?
Top campuses on this page include Shorter University (graduation) and Shorter University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Rome?
Among 3 campuses in Rome, Georgia, 1 campus reports at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include Georgia Northwestern Technical College; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- Georgia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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