Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Dalton State College #189 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,858 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dalton State College in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Dalton State College #23 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Dalton State College delivers graduate earnings that outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions, a result that reflects the college's business-focused program mix and its strong positioning within the Azimuth coverage set. Post-graduation affordability is another standout, with graduates entering the workforce at a cost basis that compares favorably across the full range of nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dalton State College #189 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 87.3 percentile. The current structured profile shows retention at 70.9% and a six-year graduation rate of 25.3%. Return on investment ranks #929, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $52,160. Graduates earn about $4,858 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 98.5 percentile; published cost of attendance is $12,719, and the middle-income net price is $6,042. Access sits in the 92.6 percentile, with 49.9% receiving Pell Grants and 51.2% first-generation.
Dalton State College keeps costs well below what most institutions charge, making it one of the more accessible options in the Azimuth coverage set. Low-income families pay approximately $3,962 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $6,042, and higher-income families pay approximately $10,055. Azimuth ranks Dalton State College #23 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The published cost of attendance is $12,719, and the gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay reflects the college's broad reliance on need-based aid and its public-tuition structure. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each group pay more and some less than the figures shown. Dalton State's aid reach extends meaningfully across income levels, with the steepest discounts concentrated among lower-income students. The college participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Georgia's HOPE Scholarship provides an additional layer of grant support for qualifying in-state students, further reducing out-of-pocket costs for many families. For families weighing the net price illusion — the gap between what a school appears to cost and what it actually charges — Dalton State tends to land on the more transparent end of that spectrum. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $12,937, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $8,848; 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 $52,160, median federal debt of $12,937 projects to a monthly payment of about $146 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Dalton State College is a strong fit for students in northwestern GA who want an accessible, career-oriented path through a public university with a clear focus on Business and applied fields — particularly those who plan to stay and work in the region after graduation. The earnings case is grounded and practical. Graduates earn median $52,160 four years after enrollment, placing Dalton State College in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $4,858 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dalton State College in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 49.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 51.2% are first-generation students, making Dalton State College one of the more accessible options in GA for cost-sensitive and first-generation families. Median student debt at graduation is $12,937, which keeps the financial commitment manageable relative to expected earnings. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students seeking a broad research-university experience or planning to relocate to a high-cost metro immediately after graduation may find a different institutional profile better suited to those goals.
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
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This is the Dalton State College 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.
Dalton State College keeps costs well below what most institutions charge, making it one of the more accessible options in the Azimuth coverage set. Low-income families pay approximately $3,962 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $6,042, and higher-income families pay approximately $10,055.
Azimuth ranks Dalton State College #23 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The published cost of attendance is $12,719, and the gap between sticker price and what most families actually pay reflects the college's broad reliance on need-based aid and its public-tuition structure.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each group pay more and some less than the figures shown. Dalton State's aid reach extends meaningfully across income levels, with the steepest discounts concentrated among lower-income students.
The college participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Georgia's HOPE Scholarship provides an additional layer of grant support for qualifying in-state students, further reducing out-of-pocket costs for many families. For families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the gap between what a school appears to cost and what it actually charges — Dalton State tends to land on the more transparent end of that spectrum.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $12,937, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $8,848; 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 $52,160, median federal debt of $12,937 projects to a monthly payment of about $146 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 Dalton State College earn median 4-year earnings of $52,160, placing Dalton State College in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,858 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dalton State College #929 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods reports 91 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $45,604, ranked #133 nationally in its major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 85 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $60,331, ranked #224 nationally in its major.
Biology, General reports 58 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $47,218, ranked #301 nationally in its major. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 37 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $48,341, ranked #165 nationally in its major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
27 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
25 graduates
Marketing
22 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
6 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
85 graduates
Dalton State College's program mix is anchored in Business, with applied business and health fields forming the core of its degree output. Across 21 programs serving roughly 495 students annually, 11 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The largest programs by cohort size are Teacher Education (91 graduates), Business Administration (85 graduates), and Biology, General (58 graduates), followed by Criminal Justice and Nursing. Business accounts for 31% of graduates, Education represents 18%, and other STEM fields makes up 2% — a concentration that reflects the institution's applied-professional orientation.
Nursing delivers the strongest early-career pay, with graduates earning median earnings of $84,253 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #278 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Accounting follows with median earnings of $66,902, and Azimuth ranks it #221 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Digital Marketing graduates earn $64,649, while Business Administration and Criminal Justice round out the top earners at $60,331 and $48,341 respectively. Business Administration combines meaningful cohort scale with solid pay, making it a key driver of the institution's overall earnings profile.
The program portfolio at Dalton State College tilts toward fields where graduates enter the regional workforce directly — nursing, business administration, and industrial technology are high-mobility pathways tied to local and statewide employer demand. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides broader context for how these applied fields align with national labor-market trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort size, earnings, and benchmark performance. ```
