Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Albany State University #156 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Albany State University sits in the 76.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, the institution's strongest-ranked pillar and a reflection of its broad-access mission serving a predominantly Pell-eligible and first-generation student population in Albany, Georgia. Azimuth ranks Albany State University #8 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Albany State University in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a signal that the institution moves students meaningfully forward relative to where similar students land at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Albany State University #156 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 89.5 percentile. The current structured profile shows retention at 78.6% and a six-year graduation rate of 31.1%. Return on investment ranks #866, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,096. Graduates earn about $7,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 76.4 percentile; published cost of attendance is $19,333, and the middle-income net price is $13,785. Access sits in the 99.5 percentile, with 69.3% receiving Pell Grants and 33.5% first-generation.
Albany State University prices its degrees at a cost of attendance of $19,333, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income students see a net price of approximately $10,693, making Albany State one of the more accessible options in the Azimuth coverage set for families with limited resources. Middle-income families pay around $13,785, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,324. Azimuth ranks Albany State University #337 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Albany State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, which together help reduce out-of-pocket costs for students who qualify. The institution's public-university pricing structure and Georgia's state aid programs provide meaningful support for in-state students, particularly those from lower-income households. Families should review their full aid award carefully, as the gap between published cost and actual net price can differ substantially depending on household circumstances — a dynamic explored further in the net price illusion. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,024, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,892; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,096, median federal debt of $25,024 projects to a monthly payment of about $283 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Albany State University is a public university in Albany, GA, with a program portfolio concentrated in Education — a strong fit for students who want to enter teaching, social services, or community-oriented careers in the region and who prioritize broad access and low upfront cost over maximizing early-career earnings. The affordability case is straightforward: median student debt at graduation is $25,024, and net price for higher-income families is $17,324, making Albany State University one of the more cost-accessible options in the Azimuth coverage set. The access profile is broad. 69.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.5% are first-generation college students, and the institution's completion rate for Pell-eligible students stands at 18.8% — a signal that Albany State University actively supports students who face financial and first-generation barriers through to graduation. Fit depends on two realistic filters: graduates earn median earnings of $54,096 four years after enrollment, placing Albany State University in the 13.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $7,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students whose goals center on regional public-service careers — education, health, and social work — will find the cost structure and program mix well aligned; students seeking high early-career earnings in competitive national markets will find stronger options elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Albany State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Albany State University prices its degrees at a cost of attendance of $19,333, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income students see a net price of approximately $10,693, making Albany State one of the more accessible options in the Azimuth coverage set for families with limited resources.
Middle-income families pay around $13,785, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,324. Azimuth ranks Albany State University #337 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Albany State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, which together help reduce out-of-pocket costs for students who qualify.
The institution's public-university pricing structure and Georgia's state aid programs provide meaningful support for in-state students, particularly those from lower-income households. Families should review their full aid award carefully, as the gap between published cost and actual net price can differ substantially depending on household circumstances — a dynamic explored further in the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/).
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,024, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,892; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,096, median federal debt of $25,024 projects to a monthly payment of about $283 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Albany State University earn median 4-year earnings of $54,096, placing Albany State University in the 13.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,505 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Albany State University #866 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 92 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $87,799, ranked #196 nationally in its major. Education, Other reports 91 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $41,282, ranked #6 nationally in its major.
Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 80 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $49,310, ranked #168 nationally in its major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 55 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $49,246, ranked #336 nationally in its major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
92 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
6 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
12 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
37 graduates
Marketing
10 graduates
Albany State University's program mix is anchored in Education, with additional strength in health sciences, business, and criminal justice — a portfolio consistent with a regional public university serving workforce needs across southwest Georgia. Nursing is the largest program with 92 graduates, followed by Education, Other (91 graduates), Criminal Justice (80 graduates), Business Administration (55 graduates), and Psychology, General (52 graduates).
Across 18 programs serving roughly 575 students annually, 11 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Education accounts for 22% of degree output, Business represents 14%, and Social Sciences makes up 3%.
The strongest earnings outcomes come from health-related and applied fields. Nursing leads with median earnings of $87,799 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #183 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Teacher Education follows with median earnings of $51,782, and Azimuth ranks it #97 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Biology, General program graduates 37 students and delivers median earnings of $49,440, while Social Work graduates earn median earnings of $49,331 — both reflecting direct-to-workforce pathways with steady regional demand.
Nursing combines meaningful cohort scale with solid pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings profile. Nursing and Teacher Education represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the healthcare workforce directly and median earnings reflect labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school deferral.
By contrast, Nursing is a grad-school-dependent pathway where a meaningful share of graduates continue to advanced study, and four-year median earnings of $87,799 undercount the lifetime trajectory for those who do. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Albany State University's dominant program families — particularly education and health sciences — align with regional and national labor-market demand.
For details on [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), see the methodology overview. ```
