Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Dalton State College graduates demonstrate modest but consistent earnings growth over time. Median earnings increase from $37,491 six years after enrollment to $38,970 at eight years and $40,251 at ten years, representing 7.4% growth from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $12,937 in debt with typical earnings.
Dalton State College maintains exceptionally low debt levels with median borrowing of $12,937, ranking at the 88th percentile nationally and $8,168 below the peer median of $21,105. Debt ranges from $3,276 at the 25th percentile to $17,640 at the 75th percentile, indicating controlled borrowing across all student populations.
Dalton State College achieves strong relative performance through earnings that significantly exceed expectations for its student population. The college ranks at the 79.1st percentile nationally for value-added earnings, delivering $6,900 beyond predicted outcomes based on student demographics and institutional characteristics.
Approximately 21.5% of Dalton State graduates continue to graduate or professional study, though this estimate carries low confidence due to program m...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate significant variation in career outcomes across Dalton State's focused portfolio. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing leads with median earnings of $78,123, followed by Digital Marketing at $48,509 and Business Administration at $44,818.
These higher-earning programs drive overall institutional performance while serving different student populations and career objectives. Education and biological sciences programs produce more modest earnings in the $39,000 range, reflecting public service and research preparation pathways.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at Dalton State shows meaningful upward mobility potential within the graduate population. The spread from $24,619 at the 25th percentile to $56,194 at the 75th percentile creates a 2.3:1 ratio, indicating varied career outcomes while maintaining accessible entry points.
