Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Georgia Southwestern State University #400 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Georgia Southwestern State University sits in the 68.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $2,399 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Georgia Southwestern State University #714 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Georgia Southwestern State University's composite standing reflects a combination of earnings beyond expectations and mobility outcomes that outperform what the institution's size and regional profile might suggest. The university's strength in moving students — particularly those from lower-income backgrounds — into durable career pathways is the clearest signal of its value among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Georgia Southwestern State University #400 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Americus, GA, Georgia Southwestern State University enrolls roughly 2,424 undergraduates. Retention stands at 57.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 40.6%, figures that reflect a student body navigating the transition to college in a rural Southwest Georgia setting. The composite is anchored by what Georgia Southwestern State University delivers for the students it serves. 43.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.5% are first-generation college students — a profile that places the university squarely in the broad-access tier of Georgia's public higher education system. Graduates earn about $2,399 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Georgia Southwestern State University in the 68.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways most graduates pursue. Return on investment sits at the 48.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, per Azimuth's composite methodology. Median earnings four years after enrollment of $62,132 reflect the regional labor market in Southwest Georgia and a student population whose outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree baseline of $30,928 in GA, even where they fall below the median at larger flagship institutions. Access sits at the 73.6 percentile and affordability at the 90.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility rounding out the composite at the 51.7 percentile.
Georgia Southwestern State University's published cost of attendance is $20,484. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,477, middle-income families pay around $13,508, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,415. Azimuth ranks Georgia Southwestern State University #139 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. Georgia Southwestern State University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution works to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through a combination of grant aid and loan options. The affordability rank reflects both the headline net price and the debt load graduates carry, accounting for how financial aid reshapes the initial cost of attendance across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,851, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $9,000; 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 $62,132, median federal debt of $18,851 projects to a monthly payment of about $213 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Georgia Southwestern State University is a regional public university in Americus, GA, well suited for students drawn to Business and related applied fields who want an accessible, affordable path to a four-year degree close to home. Graduates earn about $2,399 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Georgia Southwestern State University in the 68.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a meaningful signal for students focused on post-graduation financial outcomes relative to what similar students achieve elsewhere. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 43.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.5% are first-generation — and the broad-access admission rate of 75.2% means most qualified applicants can enroll. For cost-sensitive families, net price and median debt levels are worth reviewing alongside the earnings trajectory before committing. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a wide range of specialized STEM or research-oriented programs may find the offering narrower than at larger flagship institutions.
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
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This is the Georgia Southwestern 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.
Georgia Southwestern State University's published cost of attendance is $20,484. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,477, middle-income families pay around $13,508, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,415.
Azimuth ranks Georgia Southwestern State University #139 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.
Georgia Southwestern State University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution works to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through a combination of grant aid and loan options.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline net price and the debt load graduates carry, accounting for how financial aid reshapes the initial cost of attendance across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,851, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $9,000; 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 $62,132, median federal debt of $18,851 projects to a monthly payment of about $213 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $62,132, placing Georgia Southwestern State University in the 52.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,399 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Georgia Southwestern State University in the 68.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Georgia Southwestern State University #764 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to GA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 — the state median earnings of working adults in the young-adult prime earning window with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Georgia Southwestern State University is anchored in Business and related applied fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest enrollment with the strongest aggregate earnings contribution, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Among the programs Azimuth tracks, Teacher Education program graduates 60 students with median earnings of $48,001 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #120 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Nursing and Business Administration round out the core of the degree portfolio, with graduates earning $80,811 and $65,514 respectively four years after enrollment — fields that align with regional employer demand in southwest GA and beyond.
Business accounts for 31% of degrees, with Education at 17% and Arts at 4%, a mix that reflects the institution's applied, career-oriented program identity.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
52 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
48 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
14 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
44 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
9 graduates
Georgia Southwestern State University's program mix is anchored in Business, reflecting the institution's identity as a career-oriented regional public university serving southwest Georgia. The largest program by graduate volume is Teacher Education, with 60 graduates earning median earnings of $48,001 four years after enrollment, followed by Nursing (52 graduates, $80,811) and Business Administration (48 graduates, $65,514).
Together, these programs account for the bulk of degree output and reflect the institution's applied, workforce-oriented focus across 20 programs serving roughly 389 students annually. The strongest earnings outcomes at Georgia Southwestern State University are concentrated in a handful of fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $80,811 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #277 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, per the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business Administration follows with median earnings of $65,514, and Human Resources Management and Services graduates earn $64,973 — both reflecting the applied-professional orientation that characterizes Georgia Southwestern State University's strongest programs.
The program mix at Georgia Southwestern State University skews toward fields with direct regional labor-market alignment — particularly Business (31% of graduates), Education (17%), and Arts (4%). These are largely local-labor and applied-professional pathways rather than high-mobility national-market fields, which shapes both the earnings distribution and the career trajectories graduates can expect.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with broader labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Central University Similar quality tier (#15243 ranked) | OK | 58% | $44,962 | #15243 | Compare |
Northeastern State University Similar quality tier (#15236 ranked) | OK | 100% | $45,379 | #15236 | Compare |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College Similar quality tier (#15258 ranked) | PA | 97% | $63,435 | #15258 | Compare |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Similar quality tier (#15234 ranked) | PA | 98% | $63,435 | #15234 | Compare |
Indiana University-South Bend Similar quality tier (#15270 ranked) | IN | 84% | $44,947 | #15270 | Compare |
