Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Paine College #763 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,449, placing Paine College in the 1.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Paine College sits in the 44.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Paine College #763 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a balance of access, affordability, and return on investment. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,449, placing the institution in the 1.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Paine College's graduates earn about $3,227 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 44.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Paine College #763 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Augusta, Georgia, Paine College enrolls roughly 388 undergraduates. Retention is 53.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 14.4%, reflecting the institution's commitment to supporting students through degree completion. Paine College serves a student population with substantial financial need: 75.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.9% are first-generation college students. The institution's strength lies in mobility outcomes. Azimuth ranks Paine College #1194 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,227 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Paine College in the 44.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. For a small, historically Black private college, Paine College delivers outcomes that reflect meaningful economic mobility for its graduates. The institution's Business-focused curriculum aligns with regional labor-market demand and positions students for stable career pathways. Access and affordability remain areas where the institution continues to evolve, but the core mission — converting broad access into upward mobility for low-income and first-generation students — remains central to Paine College's institutional identity.
Paine College's published cost of attendance is $27,431. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $15,322, middle-income families pay around $17,233, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,388. Azimuth ranks Paine College #292 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and institutional aid policies. Paine College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure aims to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. Families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid-package details and the specific application process, which typically includes the FAFSA. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $7,581; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,449, projected federal student loan debt translates to monthly payments under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and monthly-payment estimates — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool. The Parent PLUS risk framework offers additional context on how household income and family circumstances shape PLUS borrowing decisions.
Paine College is a strong fit for students interested in business fields who want a private nonprofit college experience in Augusta, GA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,449, placing Paine College in the 1.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures track GA's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 75.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.9% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $20,388, with need-based aid available to help close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on program alignment — business represents 31% of degree output at Paine College. Students whose interests match this focus will find the strongest outcomes.
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 Paine College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Sociology
8 graduates
Paine College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready preparation for its student body. Business Administration is the largest program with 13 graduates, followed by Sociology, Biology, General, American History (United States), and Psychology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 38 students annually, the institution concentrates its academic portfolio in Business (representing 31% of graduates) and Social Sciences (representing 19% of graduates). This concentration in applied business and professional disciplines positions Paine College as a career-focused private institution.
The largest programs by enrollment—Business Administration, Sociology, and Biology, General—serve as the foundation of the institution's degree output and connect directly to regional labor-market demand in business services, education, and healthcare sectors. The program mix reflects a deliberate institutional strategy to prepare students for immediate workforce entry rather than broad academic exploration, a positioning that aligns with the institution's mission as a historically Black college serving first-generation and low-income students.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Paine College's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends. Business and professional-services fields continue to show steady hiring demand, particularly in the Southeast, supporting the institution's strategic focus on these pathways.
For students prioritizing direct entry into stable careers over extended academic study, this program concentration offers clarity and workforce alignment.
Paine College's published cost of attendance is $27,431. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $15,322, middle-income families pay around $17,233, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,388.
Azimuth ranks Paine College #292 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated need and institutional aid policies.
Paine College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure aims to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry.
Families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid-package details and the specific application process, which typically includes the FAFSA. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $7,581; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,449, projected federal student loan debt translates to monthly payments under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and monthly-payment estimates — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
The [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) offers additional context on how household income and family circumstances shape PLUS borrowing decisions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Schreiner University Similar quality tier (#24287 ranked) | TX | 88% | $52,228 | #24287 | Compare |
John A Gupton College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#23759 ranked) | TN | 100% | $46,902 | #23759 | Compare |
Stillman College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#24293 ranked) | AL | 62% | $35,421 | #24293 | Compare |
Southwestern College Similar quality tier (#23752 ranked) | KS | 76% | $55,646 | #23752 | Compare |
Rosedale Technical College Similar quality tier (#23751 ranked) | PA | 75% | $47,880 | #23751 | Compare |
Graduates of Paine College earn median 4-year earnings of $41,449, placing Paine College in the 1.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,227 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Paine College in the 44.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Paine College #1194 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Paine College's concentration in Business.
The largest programs by enrollment are Business Administration with 13 graduates, Sociology with 8 graduates, and Biology, General with 6 graduates. These fields anchor the institution's degree output and shape the overall earnings trajectory for students who complete their studies at Paine College.
