At $20,786/yr net price, Brenau University graduates earn $54,003/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $20,003/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,786 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $83,144 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,003/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$20,003/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 35.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,696/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,278/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,551/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,922/yr |
| $110,001+ | $19,129/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $78,343 | $53,606 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $65,387 | |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Master | $61,516 | $47,834 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $60,523 | $28,357 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $60,173 | $43,355 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $52,941 | $43,570 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $48,198 | $37,826 |
| Gerontology. | Master | $41,342 | $34,824 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $38,289 | $33,035 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $33,993 | $56,275 |
The Risk Factor
35.4% of students at Brenau University graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Brenau University gives you a mixed financial picture that leans risky. You pay about $20,800 a year net and leave with $27,000 in median debt, while median earnings ten years out sit near $54,000. That gap is workable, but the graduation rate is the problem: only about 35% of students finish, and just 62% return after their first year. If you borrow and don't graduate, you carry the debt without the degree that pays it back.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It pays more than any other bachelor's program at Brenau and lands you in a Georgia job market that hires nurses steadily. The debt load for nursing is a bit above the school median, but the earnings justify it.
The other bachelor's programs are harder to defend financially. Teacher education graduates earn under $40,000 while carrying the highest debt of any listed program, over $33,000. Business/Commerce is worse: the lowest earnings on the list paired with the highest debt at $38,000. General business at Brenau does not pay off. Health administration sits in the middle, with earnings near $32,000 against average debt.
The net price tiers hold a surprise. Families earning over $110k pay the least, around $19,100, while families in the $75-110k range pay the most at nearly $25,000. If you land in that middle-upper band, you get squeezed. Lower-income families pay close to $20,700, so aid does not drop the price much at the bottom.
Brenau fits you if you're going into nursing and confident you'll finish. If you're aiming at business or education, the debt-to-earnings math works against you, and the low completion rate makes any borrowing a real gamble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brenau University worth the cost?
Brenau University's ROI depends heavily on your major. Health administration and rehabilitation programs show strong earnings potential above $65,000, but the overall 10-year median earnings of $54,003 are modest for a $20,786 annual cost.
What programs at Brenau University have the best job prospects?
Health and Medical Administrative Services leads with $78,343 median earnings, followed by Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at $65,387. These healthcare-focused programs significantly outperform the university's overall graduate earnings.
How much debt do Brenau University graduates typically have?
Brenau graduates have a median debt of $27,000, which is manageable compared to national averages. However, with a 35% graduation rate, many students leave without completing their degree.
Does Brenau University have good graduation rates?
No, Brenau University's 35% graduation rate is concerning and well below national averages. This means nearly two-thirds of students don't complete their degree, creating significant financial risk.