Piedmont University provides meaningful access for students from diverse economic backgrounds, with over 40% receiving Pell Grants in a supportive small-college environment.
The university emphasizes personalized education and community connection, though families should carefully consider debt levels relative to earning potential.
Piedmont University is a small private nonprofit institution in Demorest, Georgia, that serves students seeking a personalized college experience in a close-knit community setting. While the university doesn't rank among the top performers nationally for earnings outcomes, it provides meaningful access for students from diverse economic backgrounds, with over 40% of students receiving Pell Grants and about 31% being first-generation college students.
Graduates earn a median of $49,130 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the lower third nationally for long-term earnings. However, Piedmont's value proposition centers on its small scale and supportive environment rather than maximum financial returns. The university maintains reasonable affordability, with net prices ranging from around $18,500 for low-income students to $24,250 for higher-income families.
As an "Under-Resourced Institution" in terms of mobility outcomes, Piedmont faces challenges in delivering the strongest possible earnings for low-income students, though it continues to provide access and support for students who might not otherwise attend college. The university's strength lies in its intimate learning environment and commitment to serving students from various economic backgrounds, particularly those seeking the personal attention that comes with a small private college experience.
Piedmont University's program portfolio reflects its focus on professional preparation and service-oriented careers, though with mixed financial outcomes across fields. The Adult Health Nursing program stands out as both the university's largest high-return offering and its most successful pathway to solid post-graduation earnings, with 65 graduates earning around $57,047 ten years out. This program demonstrates how focused professional training can deliver meaningful career outcomes even within a smaller institutional context.
Adult and Continuing Education represents the university's largest program by enrollment, with 56 graduates, but shows more modest earnings at $35,249 early in career. This pattern reflects Piedmont's emphasis on education and human services fields, which often provide meaningful work and community impact but typically offer more limited financial returns compared to business or technical fields.
The concentration in nursing and education programs aligns with Piedmont's mission-driven approach and its role in preparing professionals for essential community services. While these fields may not deliver the highest possible earnings, they offer stable career paths and the opportunity for graduates to make meaningful contributions in healthcare and education sectors. Students should consider these programs in the context of their personal values and career goals rather than purely financial outcomes.
Graduates of Piedmont University earn a median of $49,130 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution below national averages for long-term financial outcomes. While these earnings provide a foundation for post-graduation life, they reflect the challenges that many small private institutions face in delivering the highest possible returns on educational investment. The university's earnings performance sits in the lower third nationally, indicating that students should consider Piedmont primarily for its educational experience rather than maximum earning potential.
The university's strongest financial outcomes come from its nursing programs, where Adult Health Nursing graduates earn around $57,047 ten years out and represent the largest concentration of high-earning alumni. This program, with 65 graduates, demonstrates how focused professional preparation can lead to solid career outcomes even within a smaller institutional context. Adult and Continuing Education, the university's largest program with 56 graduates, shows more modest earnings at $35,249, reflecting the varied career paths and earning potential across Piedmont's academic offerings.
While Piedmont's overall earnings lag behind many peer institutions, the university provides value through its small-scale, personalized approach to education. Students should weigh the benefits of close faculty relationships, individualized attention, and a supportive campus community against the reality that long-term earnings may be more modest than at larger research universities or more selective institutions.
Affordability at Piedmont University shows a mixed picture, with net prices that are relatively manageable for a private institution but still represent a significant investment for most families. Low-income students pay about $18,494 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $17,980 per year. Even high-income families face net prices of $24,251, which reflects the university's efforts to provide some level of financial support across income levels while maintaining its private college model.
Debt levels at Piedmont require careful consideration, as typical graduates leave with $25,000 in federal student loan debt and families often take on an additional $15,000 in Parent PLUS loans. These borrowing levels, combined with the university's modest earnings outcomes, mean that students and families need to plan carefully for repayment. The federal loan default rate of 0% suggests that most borrowers are managing their obligations, though this may reflect forbearance or income-driven repayment rather than comfortable standard repayment.
For families considering Piedmont, the key affordability question centers on whether the university's intimate educational experience justifies the debt levels relative to earning potential. While net prices are reasonable for a private college, the combination of moderate debt and below-average earnings means families should carefully assess their financial capacity and consider whether the personal benefits of Piedmont's small-scale environment align with their long-term financial goals.
Piedmont University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
