Dalton State College
Dalton, GA 30720-3797
About Dalton State College
Dalton State College is a public four-year university in Dalton, Georgia, serving roughly 4,553 students. Dalton State College awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $3,336 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $40,251 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Dalton State College charges 39% below the national public median tuition ($3,336).
- Versus the Georgia median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Average net price runs below the Georgia median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 25.31%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,251.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Dalton State College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1908% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton State College | $3,336 | $5,012 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Georgia (state median) | $8,492 | $9,196 | 117 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Dalton State College really?
Key findings
- Dalton State College charges 39% below the national public median tuition ($3,336).
- Versus the Georgia median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Average net price runs below the Georgia median net price.
Dalton State College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $3,336
Finding Dalton State College charges 39% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $3,336. That is 39% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Georgia median ($8,492), sticker tuition is about 0.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.3×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Dalton State College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Dalton State College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Dalton State College is $5,012.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $5,012 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $4,184 below the Georgia median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $9,959 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Dalton State College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Dalton State College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Dalton State College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$3,336
Out-of-state tuition
$10,656
Avg. net price
$5,012
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $3,962 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $3,788 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,042 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $8,114 |
| $110,001+ | $10,055 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $13,344. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Dalton State College is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse151
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies110
- Elementary Education and Teaching79
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General54
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other45
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Dalton State College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Dalton State College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Dalton State College.
Campus
Location
Dalton, GA
City / state
- ZIP
- 30720-3797
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is about 0.3× the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
4,553
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 6,036
- Full-time share
- 63%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$12,937
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 49.86%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Dalton State College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Dalton State College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Dalton State College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,910 | $11,768 | $5,607 |
| 2014 | $3,982 | $12,038 | $6,192 |
| 2015 | $4,052 | $12,302 | $5,709 |
| 2016 | $3,503 | $10,110 | $11,247 |
| 2017 | $4,212 | $12,634 | $5,574 |
| 2018 | $4,246 | $12,668 | $6,272 |
| 2019 | $3,683 | $10,589 | $6,543 |
| 2020 | $3,683 | $10,589 | $5,340 |
| 2021 | $3,683 | $10,589 | $5,240 |
| 2022 | $3,283 | $10,189 | $5,066 |
| 2023 | $3,283 | $10,189 | $4,694 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Dalton State College reported total enrollment of about 4,553 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 36% male and 64% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (49.5%), Hispanic or Latino (38.7%), and Black or African American (4.4%). About 49.86% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 51.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
62.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Dalton State College in 2024 is 4,553 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,036 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
70.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
7.83% 100% Completion Time
25.31% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 7.83% of students graduating from Dalton State College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 17% male / 83% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 44% male / 56% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 11% male / 89% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Dalton State College graduates earn a median of $40,251 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Dalton State College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $40,251. Median federal loan debt: $12,937. Average net price used in cost models: $5,012.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Dalton State College graduates report median earnings of $40,251 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Dalton State College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (33 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Dalton State College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Dalton State College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Dalton State College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$20.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Georgia median 0.49× the median ($41.7M)
- Southeast median near the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.77× the median ($26.4M)
- Georgia median 0.58× the median ($9,839)
- Southeast median 0.61× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.47× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 66.0%
- Georgia median 3.6 pp above median (62.3%)
- Southeast median 6.5 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 8.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,570
- Georgia median 1.2× the median ($6,152)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,721
- Georgia median 0.82× the median ($5,760)
- Southeast median 0.72× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.65× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Dalton State College at a glance
Dalton State College
Dalton State College is a public institution in Dalton, GA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesElementary Education and Teaching
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian49.5%Hispanic or Latino38.7%Black or African American4.4%
Schools near Dalton State College
Other campuses in Dalton, GA when available, plus nearby institutions in Georgia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Georgia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dalton State College located?
Dalton State College is located in Dalton, GA.
What is Dalton State College's tuition?
Dalton State College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $3,336 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $5,012 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Dalton State College cost?
Reported tuition is $3,336 and average net price is $5,012 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,419 annually.
What explains Dalton State College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($5,012), completion (25.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($40,251). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Dalton State College?
Dalton State College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,036 students, White (49.5%), Hispanic or Latino (38.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Dalton State College?
About 51.2% of students at Dalton State College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Dalton State College earn?
Median earnings are $37,491 six years after entry and $40,251 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Dalton State College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 25.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Dalton State College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $12,937.
Is Dalton State College public or private?
Dalton State College is a public institution located in Dalton, GA.
Is Dalton State College an HBCU?
No. Dalton State College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Dalton State College a tribal college?
No. Dalton State College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.