Cost of college in Georgia
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Georgia averages $7,162 a year, or $13,368 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $55,598 and owe about $20,922. The net price pays back in about 3.9 years.
How Georgia compares to the US
Georgia ranks #47 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #26 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #19 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Georgia | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $7,162 | $9,518 | -$2,356 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $20,849 | $23,652 | -$2,803 |
| Net price after aid | $13,368 | $13,788 | -$420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $55,598 | $56,427 | -$829 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,922 | $17,856 | +$3,066 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Georgia pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Georgia costs about $53,472 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.9 years from the roughly $13,798-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #19 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Georgia list about $38,331 in tuition and net out to about $32,443 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Georgia?
At a public 4-year college in Georgia, in-state tuition and fees average about $7,162 a year and out-of-state runs about $20,849. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $13,368. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Georgia earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Georgia's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $55,598 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,922 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Georgia?
A public 4-year degree in Georgia costs about $53,472 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.9 years from the roughly $13,798-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.