Georgia State University
Georgia State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Georgia State University at a Glance
Georgia State University is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is also the largest in-person institution of higher education by enrollment based in Georgia with a student enrollment of 53,144, including 45,065 undergraduate and 8,079 graduate students across all of their campuses.
1913
113 years old
$257M
$256.5 million (2024)
53,144
45,065 undergrad · 6,053 grad
1,444
87 acres
Identity
Is Georgia State University Worth It?
Georgia State University offers moderate value at $15,931/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $47,384, which is 12% 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 1.3 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 State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #29 of 46 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 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #4 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #5 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #6 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #29 | Georgia State University | 40 | $15,931 | $47,384 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Georgia State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Georgia State University
The highest-earning program at Georgia State University is Computer Science at $65,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services at $20,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Georgia State University earns $65,200, while a Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduate earns $20,400. 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: Computer Science graduates carry $22,506 in median debt vs. $21,625 for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,931/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $65,200 | $65,200 | $22,506 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $60,900 | $60,900 | $23,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $55,800 | $55,800 | $25,000 |
| Insurance | $53,000 | $53,000 | $26,760 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $52,900 | $52,900 | $22,875 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $52,100 | $52,100 | $21,562 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $47,000 | $47,000 | $23,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,900 | $44,900 | $22,703 |
| Economics | $43,200 | $43,200 | $22,179 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $42,300 | $42,300 | $24,750 |
| Marketing | $41,000 | $41,000 | $23,834 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,600 | $40,600 | $25,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $39,800 | $39,800 | $24,211 |
| Mathematics | $38,900 | $38,900 | $23,052 |
| Chemistry | $38,800 | $38,800 | $27,125 |
| Music | $36,900 | $36,900 | $28,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $33,900 | $33,900 | $24,242 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $33,000 | $33,000 | $24,000 |
| Social Work | $32,700 | $32,700 | $28,125 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $31,900 | $31,900 | $25,586 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $31,700 | $31,700 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | $31,400 | $31,400 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,500 | $30,500 | $21,583 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,500 | $30,500 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $29,900 | $29,900 | $24,250 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $29,000 | $29,000 | $26,350 |
| Philosophy | $28,300 | $28,300 | $28,698 |
| Journalism | $28,200 | $28,200 | $24,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,900 | $27,900 | $24,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $27,400 | $27,400 | $25,020 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $27,400 | $27,400 | $21,190 |
| Anthropology | $26,300 | $26,300 | $24,737 |
| History | $25,800 | $25,800 | $23,250 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $25,500 | $25,500 | $22,625 |
| Psychology, General | $25,500 | $25,500 | $25,000 |
| Biology, General | $25,100 | $25,100 | $25,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,800 | $24,800 | $26,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,900 | $21,900 | $25,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $20,400 | $20,400 | $21,625 |
Similar Colleges in GA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
- Student Body
- 26,623 students
- Admission Rate
- 55%
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,931
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $47,384
- Median Student Debt
- $20,903