Emmanuel University offers families predictable college costs and a supportive, faith-centered educational environment where students receive personal attention and close faculty mentorship.
While graduate earnings lag behind national averages, the university maintains affordable pricing and helps students avoid loan default through manageable debt structures.
Emmanuel University is a small private Christian college in Franklin Springs, Georgia, serving about 30% Pell Grant recipients and 36% first-generation students. While the university provides access to higher education in a supportive, faith-centered environment, graduates face earnings challenges that place Emmanuel in the bottom tier nationally for long-term financial outcomes.
Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $38,208, which falls well below what similar students achieve at other institutions. The university's intimate scale and Christian mission create a distinctive educational experience, but prospective students should understand that career earnings typically lag behind those of graduates from larger universities or institutions with different program mixes.
For families drawn to Emmanuel's religious foundation, small class sizes, and personal mentorship opportunities, the university offers meaningful educational value. However, the financial return on investment requires careful consideration, as graduates generally earn less than peers who attend other colleges, making this primarily a choice driven by fit and values rather than economic outcomes.
Emmanuel University's program portfolio is quite limited, with Business Administration and Management representing the primary career-focused major among available options. This program graduates 35 students annually with median earnings of $39,009 ten years after graduation, making it both the largest and highest-earning program at the university.
The concentration in business reflects Emmanuel's practical approach to career preparation, though the modest earnings outcomes suggest that program scale and employer connections may be limited compared with business programs at larger institutions. With only one major represented in the top programs data, students have fewer options for comparing potential career paths and earnings outcomes.
The small program scale means fewer alumni networks and potentially limited employer recruitment compared with comprehensive universities. Students interested in fields beyond business administration may find limited options or may need to consider the trade-offs between Emmanuel's intimate educational environment and the broader program diversity available at larger institutions.
Emmanuel University graduates face significant earnings challenges compared with peers at other institutions. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $38,208, placing the university in the bottom 12% nationally for long-term earnings outcomes. More concerning, graduates earn about $9,284 less than similar students at other colleges, indicating that the earnings gap persists well into graduates' careers.
Business Administration and Management represents Emmanuel's largest program, with 35 graduates earning a median of $39,009 ten years out. While this major provides the university's strongest aggregate return, even these earnings remain modest compared with business graduates from other institutions. The limited program diversity and small scale may constrain career networking and employer recruitment opportunities that typically help boost graduate earnings at larger universities.
The earnings challenges appear consistent across Emmanuel's graduate base, with only 22 students earning more than $75,000 annually. This pattern suggests that while Emmanuel provides educational access and personal attention, students should expect more modest financial outcomes and may need to prioritize career development and networking independently to maximize their earning potential after graduation.
Emmanuel University maintains relatively consistent and affordable net prices across income groups. Low-income families pay about $18,134 annually, while middle-income families see costs of $17,824, and higher-income families pay $21,250. This pricing structure places Emmanuel around the national average for affordability, making it accessible to families across different economic backgrounds.
Typical graduates leave with $24,325 in federal student loan debt and families often take on an additional $18,428 in Parent PLUS loans. While these debt levels are manageable in absolute terms, they become more challenging when considered against Emmanuel's modest graduate earnings of $38,208. The combination of typical debt loads with below-average earnings means graduates may face longer repayment periods and tighter monthly budgets than peers from higher-earning institutions.
The university's 0% federal loan default rate indicates that graduates generally manage to stay current on their payments, though this may reflect forbearance or income-driven repayment plans rather than comfortable repayment capacity. Families should carefully weigh the total cost of attendance against realistic post-graduation earning expectations when making enrollment decisions.
Emmanuel University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
