Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Georgia Southern University at a Glance
Georgia Southern University is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, with additional campuses in Savannah, Swainsboro, and Hinesville. Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern is the fifth-largest institution in the University System of Georgia.
1906
120 years old
$117M
$117.4 million (2025)
29,633
22,295 undergrad · 3,746 grad
1,103
900 acres
Identity
Is Georgia Southern University Worth It?
Georgia Southern University offers moderate value at $15,267/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $53,236, which is 1% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 53% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Georgia Southern University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #48 of 84 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #2 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #3 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #4 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #5 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #6 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #48 | Georgia Southern University | 47 | $15,267 | $53,236 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Georgia Southern University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in GA.
Best Programs at Georgia Southern University
The highest-earning program at Georgia Southern University is Management Information Systems and Services at $64,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $16,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Management Information Systems and Services graduate from Georgia Southern University earns $64,100, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $16,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Management Information Systems and Services graduates carry $24,000 in median debt vs. $26,500 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,267/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Information Systems and Services | $64,100 | $64,100 | $24,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $62,400 | $62,400 | $24,125 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $61,000 | $61,000 | $25,500 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $60,900 | $60,900 | $22,750 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $59,200 | $59,200 | $23,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $57,700 | $57,700 | $25,223 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $53,500 | $53,500 | $18,018 |
| Civil Engineering | $53,300 | $53,300 | $22,625 |
| Information Science/Studies | $50,900 | $50,900 | $27,490 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $48,800 | $48,800 | $24,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $45,000 | $45,000 | $24,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,400 | $44,400 | $21,650 |
| Marketing | $43,500 | $43,500 | $23,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,900 | $41,900 | $22,907 |
| Chemistry | $38,400 | $38,400 | $25,326 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $37,100 | $37,100 | $24,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,300 | $36,300 | $23,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $36,100 | $36,100 | $25,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $35,000 | $35,000 | $23,000 |
| Economics | $33,900 | $33,900 | $25,762 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,600 | $31,600 | $23,224 |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | $31,100 | $31,100 | $24,992 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,100 | $31,100 | $25,500 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $31,000 | $31,000 | $22,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,700 | $30,700 | $26,500 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $30,100 | $30,100 | $25,000 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $28,400 | $28,400 | $24,750 |
| Public Health | $28,300 | $28,300 | $26,000 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $28,300 | $28,300 | $23,450 |
| Mathematics | $28,000 | $28,000 | $24,250 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,000 | $28,000 | $23,750 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $27,000 | $27,000 | $23,625 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $26,900 | $26,900 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | $25,000 | $25,000 | $24,000 |
| Journalism | $24,900 | $24,900 | $23,000 |
| Biology, General | $24,700 | $24,700 | $25,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,100 | $24,100 | $24,625 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $24,100 | $24,100 | $23,750 |
| History | $23,600 | $23,600 | $23,887 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $23,400 | $23,400 | $25,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $23,100 | $23,100 | $25,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $19,100 | $19,100 | $28,032 |
| Sociology | $17,300 | $17,300 | $25,750 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $16,700 | $16,700 | $26,500 |
Similar Colleges in GA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Statesboro, GA
- Student Body
- 21,790 students
- Admission Rate
- 88%
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,267
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $53,236
- Median Student Debt
- $23,250