Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #1347 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,138, placing Oglethorpe University in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #1279 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #1347 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Atlanta, Georgia, Oglethorpe University enrolls roughly 1,352 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 73.3% freshman retention rate and a 54.1% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence and degree completion. Oglethorpe University performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #1279 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,375 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oglethorpe University in the 28.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Business and related fields drives solid long-term financial outcomes for its graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Oglethorpe University sits in the 25.8 percentile for access and the 39.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a smaller private institution, Oglethorpe University enrolls 36.0% Pell-eligible students and 19.9% first-generation undergraduates. The institution's tuition and net pricing reflect the cost structure typical of private baccalaureate colleges, which shapes both affordability positioning and the selectivity of the student body that ultimately achieves the institution's strong return-on-investment outcomes.
Oglethorpe University's published cost of attendance is $60,581. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,207, families in the lower-middle range pay around $17,558, middle-income families pay about $18,745, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $23,924, and higher-income families pay around $22,055. Azimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #868 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. Oglethorpe University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to access need-based aid, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands shows that affordability gains are most pronounced for lower-income families. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,463; 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 $52,138, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Oglethorpe University is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts experience in Atlanta with a business-oriented program mix and solid post-graduation outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,138, placing Oglethorpe University in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $7,375 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 28.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.9% are first-generation — while maintaining a 88.4% admit rate that reflects selective admissions standards. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix leans heavily toward Business (25% of degrees), and the $22,055 net price for higher-income families positions Oglethorpe as a premium option among GA's private colleges.
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 Oglethorpe University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taylor University Similar quality tier (#36116 ranked) | IN | 74% | $52,198 | #36116 | Compare |
Crown College Similar quality tier (#36115 ranked) | MN | 23% | $48,057 | #36115 | Compare |
William Peace University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#36114 ranked) | NC | 94% | $46,643 | #36114 | Compare |
Bethel College-North Newton Similar quality tier (#36120 ranked) | KS | 94% | $49,898 | #36120 | Compare |
Franciscan University Of Steubenville Similar quality tier (#36110 ranked) | OH | 58% | $50,030 | #36110 | Compare |
Accounting and Related Services
9 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
50 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
9 graduates
Biology, General
43 graduates
Oglethorpe University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's positioning as a private liberal arts university in Atlanta's professional market. Business Administration is the largest program with 50 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Communication and Media Studies, Research Psychology, and Biopsychology.
Business represents 25% of graduates, with Social Sciences and Arts providing complementary depth across 16 total programs. The institution's highest-aggregate-return program is Business Administration, which combines substantial enrollment with solid earnings outcomes.
Business Administration leads the earnings profile, with graduates earning median earnings of $54,609 four years after enrollment [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). This concentration in business and professional fields aligns with Oglethorpe University's strength in preparing students for direct entry into Atlanta's regional labor market, where business, finance, and professional services represent sustained employer demand.
The program portfolio reflects a career-focused institutional identity. Most graduates enter the workforce directly after completion, positioning Oglethorpe University as a pipeline into regional professional networks and employer relationships.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in the Southeast and beyond.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Oglethorpe University's published cost of attendance is $60,581. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,207, families in the lower-middle range pay around $17,558, middle-income families pay about $18,745, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $23,924, and higher-income families pay around $22,055.
Azimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #868 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.
Oglethorpe University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to access need-based aid, and work-study is available as part of aid packages.
The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands shows that affordability gains are most pronounced for lower-income families. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,463; 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 $52,138, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Oglethorpe University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,138, placing Oglethorpe University in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,375 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Oglethorpe University in the 28.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Oglethorpe University #1279 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Oglethorpe University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 50 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,609, representing 0.8× the national benchmark for the field. Biology, General and Communication and Media Studies follow as substantial enrollment clusters, with Research Psychology and Biopsychology rounding out the core program portfolio.
This program-mix signature — anchored in Business — aligns with the institution's earnings trajectory and positions graduates for stable career pathways in fields with consistent labor-market demand.
