Augusta, Georgia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Augusta, Georgia: median public in-state tuition $11,167 (+102.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $40,905 (-24.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,750 (-11.5% vs U.S.) 10,686 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 8 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 10,686 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $11,167 (+102.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $40,905 (-24.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.1% (+0.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,812 (+68.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $11,750 (-11.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 31.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 64.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Augusta serve students across Georgia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 10,686 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,167. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Augusta, Georgia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Augusta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, Georgia | $11,167 | $16,812 | $11,750 | 31.6% | 10,686 |
| Georgia (state median) | $4,094 | $9,196 | $16,167 | 41.0% | 426,705 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Augusta, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, Georgia | $40,905 | 88.1% | 64.6% | 11.5% | — | 52.0% | 0.42 |
| Georgia (state median) | $47,390 | 87.0% | 70.9% | 7.3% | — | 56.6% | 0.48 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, Georgia | $11,167 | $16,812 | $11,750 | 31.6% | 10,686 | $40,905 | 88.1% |
| Atlanta | $18,168 | $19,509 | $20,903 | 51.0% | 85,633 | $52,889 | 82.6% |
| Kennesaw | $5,808 | $15,038 | $17,032 | 52.2% | 41,415 | $57,552 | 86.4% |
| Athens | $7,420 | $13,936 | $14,886 | 89.7% | 35,655 | $68,726 | 90.4% |
| Athens | $7,420 | $13,936 | $14,886 | 89.7% | 35,655 | $68,726 | 90.4% |
| Savannah | $18,145 | $22,878 | $25,636 | 18.6% | 28,272 | $36,201 | 78.0% |
| Statesboro | $4,278 | $10,904 | $11,750 | 54.9% | 23,610 | $53,236 | 89.1% |
| Lawrenceville | $4,028 | $14,970 | $11,616 | 21.5% | 20,319 | $47,730 | 83.4% |
| Lawrenceville | $4,028 | $14,970 | $11,616 | 21.5% | 20,319 | $47,730 | 83.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Augusta, 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, 48.8%, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top college in Augusta, 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, 87.2%, Augusta University
Augusta University
Most selective college in Augusta, 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, 86.4%, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top college in Augusta, 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, $74,307, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top college in Augusta, 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, $83,000, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top college in Augusta, 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, $45,037, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top college in Augusta, 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, $44,120, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top college in Augusta, 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, $48,472, Augusta University
Augusta University
Top 2 colleges in Augusta, 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, $159,568, Augusta University
Augusta University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $60,943, Paine College
Paine College
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Augusta, 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, $13,787, Augusta University
Augusta University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $16,670, Paine College
Paine College
Top college in Augusta, 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, 75.6%, Augusta University
Augusta University
In-state tuition: Augusta, Georgia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Augusta, Georgia median in-state tuition is $11,167, +102.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Augusta, Georgia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Augusta, Georgia is $11,750 (-11.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Augusta, Georgia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Augusta, Georgia center around $40,905 (-24.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Augusta, Georgia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.1% at the median Augusta, Georgia campus (+0.1 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
Augusta, Georgia median public in-state tuition is $11,167, about +102.6% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +123.7%.
Median graduate debt is $11,750 (-11.5% below the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Augusta, Georgia are $40,905, about -24.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 88.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+0.1 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 64.6% 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 11.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 52.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Augusta University (87.2%)—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 Augusta, Georgia is 31.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Augusta?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in Augusta, Georgia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Augusta?
Median in-state tuition in Augusta is $11,167 and median net price is $16,812. For Georgia overall, medians are $4,094 and $9,196; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Augusta?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Augusta is $40,905 vs $47,390 for Georgia and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Augusta colleges?
Median completer debt in Augusta is $11,750 vs $16,167 for Georgia and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Augusta?
Top campuses on this page include Augusta University (graduation) and Augusta University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Augusta?
Among 8 campuses in Augusta, Georgia, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Paine College; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Georgia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON