Gainesville, Georgia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Gainesville, Georgia: median public in-state tuition $11,210 (+96.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,638 (-8.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,292 (+42.9% vs U.S.) 5,692 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Gainesville serve students across Georgia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,692 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $11,210. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Gainesville, Georgia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Gainesville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, Georgia | $11,210 | $17,968 | $19,292 | 33.7% | 5,692 |
| 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: Gainesville, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, Georgia | $54,638 | 92.9% | 65.0% | 2.8% | — | 61.3% | 0.51 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, Georgia | $11,210 | $17,968 | $19,292 | 33.7% | 5,692 | $54,638 | 92.9% |
| 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 Gainesville, 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, 33.7%, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, 92.9%, Brenau University
Brenau University
Most selective college in Gainesville, 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, 87.8%, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, $84,676, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, $88,731, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, $46,674, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, $50,594, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, $54,638, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, $163,316, Brenau University
Brenau University
Most affordable college in Gainesville, 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, $17,968, Brenau University
Brenau University
Top college in Gainesville, 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, 65.0%, Brenau University
Brenau University
In-state tuition: Gainesville, Georgia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Gainesville, Georgia median in-state tuition is $11,210, +96.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Gainesville, Georgia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Gainesville, Georgia is $19,292 (+42.9% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $15,558.
Median earnings (10 years out): Gainesville, Georgia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Gainesville, Georgia center around $54,638 (-8.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Gainesville, Georgia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.9% at the median Gainesville, 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
Gainesville, Georgia median public in-state tuition is $11,210, about +96.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +117.4%.
Median graduate debt is $19,292 (+42.9% above 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 Gainesville, Georgia are $54,638, about -8.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 92.9% 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% (-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 65.0% 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 2.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 61.3% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Brenau University (92.9%)—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 Gainesville, Georgia is 33.7% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Gainesville?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Gainesville, Georgia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Gainesville?
Median in-state tuition in Gainesville is $11,210 and median net price is $17,968. For Georgia overall, medians are $4,282 and $8,870; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Gainesville?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Gainesville is $54,638 vs $51,830 for Georgia and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Gainesville colleges?
Median completer debt in Gainesville is $19,292 vs $16,495 for Georgia and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Gainesville?
Top campuses on this page include Brenau University (graduation) and Brenau University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Gainesville?
Among 3 campuses in Gainesville, Georgia, 2 campuses report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include Lanier Technical College and Interactive College of Technology-Gainesville.
Sources & related
- Georgia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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