At $11,696/yr net price, Georgia Gwinnett College graduates earn $47,730/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $13,730/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $11,696 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $46,784 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,730/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$13,730/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 19.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,076 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,362/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,832/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,810/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,049/yr |
| $110,001+ | $16,240/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $60,320 | |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor | $40,821 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $39,909 | |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor | $39,549 | $20,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $37,856 | $18,369 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $36,848 | $20,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $32,925 |
The Risk Factor
19.8% of students at Georgia Gwinnett College 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
Georgia Gwinnett College gives you a mixed financial picture, and the biggest risk sits in one number: fewer than one in five students graduate. That 19.80% graduation rate is the story here. You can pay a reasonable net price and still walk away with debt and no degree, which is the worst outcome. The retention rate near 69% means roughly a third of students leave after year one, so the odds of finishing are stacked against you before you even reach earnings.
If you do graduate, the return depends heavily on your major. Computer and Information Sciences pays about $60,000 ten years out, well above the school's median and the clear winner. Everything else clusters lower. Special education, criminal justice, business, and teacher education all land in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s. Business graduates carry about $20,000 in debt while earning under $40,000, so that ratio is tight. The teaching and criminal justice paths pay modestly, which fits Georgia's public-sector and school-district job market in the Atlanta suburbs around Lawrenceville.
The net price tiers work in your favor if your family earns under $48,000, where you pay around $10,000 to $11,000 a year. Above $75,000, your price jumps to roughly $16,000, and the earnings payoff outside computer science may not justify that gap.
This school fits you if you are studying computer science, live nearby, and can commit to finishing. If you are unsure about your major or your ability to graduate on time, the low completion rate makes this a real financial gamble. Pick a high-earning program, plan to finish, or the numbers turn against you fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Georgia Gwinnett College worth the cost?
Georgia Gwinnett College offers decent value with a low net price of $11,696 annually and graduates earning $47,730 after 10 years. However, the extremely low graduation rate of 19.8% means most students don't complete their degree, making the investment risky.
What are the best paying majors at Georgia Gwinnett College?
Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn the highest at $60,320 annually, while most other programs pay closer to $40,000. Education and criminal justice programs show significantly lower returns despite requiring similar time and cost investments.
How much student debt do Georgia Gwinnett College graduates have?
Georgia Gwinnett College graduates carry a median debt of $20,076, which is manageable given the school's low costs. The debt-to-income ratio is reasonable for computer science graduates but becomes concerning for lower-paying education and criminal justice majors.
What is the biggest risk of attending Georgia Gwinnett College?
The 19.8% graduation rate means 4 out of 5 students never finish their degree but may still accumulate debt and lost time. Students should have strong academic preparation and clear career goals before enrolling.