DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
Home›Colleges›Columbus State University
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Columbus State University

⌖ Columbus, GA · 38 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$143,150 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

26.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−62%Modeled 10-year ROI
$53,931Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$143,150at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$232,4600
2
4
6
8
−$143,15010
Years after graduationBreak-even: 26.0 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$5,898
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$17,610
Sticker price
Average net price$13,115
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$21,676
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$13,115Average net price / year
$21,676Cost of attendance
$53,931Median earnings · year 5 after completion
41.8%Completion rate
99.1%Admission rate
5,625Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

70thEarnings percentile
27thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$44,821Year 1
$60,912Year 4
$53,931Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer and Information Sciences, General · Master's Degree$119,3972Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$111,9443Education, Other · Doctoral Degree$107,8014Criminal Justice and Corrections · Master's Degree$94,2675Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other · Master's Degree$91,0696Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$89,6597Educational Administration and Supervision · Doctoral Degree$85,5808Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$80,694

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in GA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Carrollton, GA

University of West Georgia

Annual net price
$12,786
Observed earnings · year 5
$53,160
Modeled 10-year ROI
-65%
Open college profile →Macon, GA

Middle Georgia State University

Annual net price
$12,361
Observed earnings · year 5
$52,952
Modeled 10-year ROI
-65%
Open college profile →Americus, GA

Georgia Southwestern State University

Annual net price
$12,019
Observed earnings · year 5
$55,128
Modeled 10-year ROI
-56%
Open college profile →Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia Gwinnett College

Annual net price
$15,844
Observed earnings · year 5
$52,716
Modeled 10-year ROI
-68%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralMaster's Degree$119,397Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$111,944Not available
Education, OtherDoctoral Degree$107,801Not available
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsMaster's Degree$94,267Not available
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherMaster's Degree$91,069Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$89,659$30,980
Educational Administration and SupervisionDoctoral Degree$85,580Not available
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$80,694$31,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$78,778Not available
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$74,854Not available
Social Sciences, OtherMaster's Degree$67,595Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$65,380$25,488
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma$65,062$12,833
Management Information Systems and ServicesBachelor's Degree$63,514$26,751
Special Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$63,482Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$62,834Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$61,389$26,500
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$57,008Not available
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$54,549Not available
Business/Commerce, GeneralBachelor's Degree$53,246$31,000
MarketingBachelor's Degree$52,588$28,500
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$50,864Not available
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$49,956$31,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$49,912$30,500
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$49,673$30,722
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$48,499$29,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$48,125$28,040
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$47,819$31,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$46,723$30,977
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$45,997$28,508
SociologyBachelor's Degree$44,506$38,400
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$42,316$29,114
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$41,266$28,000
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$35,560$30,430
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$34,931$25,802
MusicBachelor's Degree$18,218$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's DegreeNot available$25,000
MathematicsBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,776

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.