1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. University of North Georgia Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # University of North Georgia GA · Large public institution · Overall rank #255 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-north-georgia/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-north-georgia/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-north-georgia/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-north-georgia/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/university-of-north-georgia/similar/) ## Azimuth places the overall profile in the 83rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. ### Who it’s a good fit for The University of North Georgia is a public university in Dahlonega, Georgia, where the degree mix is led by Business, Health Professions, and Education. Affordability is among the highest we track. Graduates earn less than the model predicts for students like them. The model attributes the factors it measures to adding to expected earnings, while the remainder it cannot explain subtracts from them. The typical graduate also earns below the median at comparable schools, so the raw and adjusted pictures point the same way. Pell students complete within a point of the overall rate, and mobility is well above average. Families at the bottom of the income scale pay well below the published cost. Those at the top pay closer to it, with a modest spread between the two ends. The admission rate is below the median for comparable institutions, and most graduates are estimated to go into work rather than on to further study. A student drawn to the largest programs should know that the best-paid ones are much smaller. ## University of North Georgia at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 67.9% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 37.3% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $55,974 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $10,118 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $17,750 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $12,100 ## University of North Georgia rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) University of North Georgia is a public university in Dahlonega, Georgia, enrolling 16,146 undergraduates. Its composite standing sits in the top fifth of the Azimuth ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions (83rd percentile). The university admits 67.9% of applicants, a rate that is more selective than the 78.1% median for comparable institutions of the same type and size. Of students who start full time, 73.5% return for a second year and 37.3% finish within six years. Both figures run below the peer medians of 83.1% and 65.0%. An estimated 22.5% of entrants arrive as transfers or part-time students, so a significant portion of the student body did not begin their studies here. At this public university, the shape of the four pillars shows affordability as the clear strength (94th percentile). Mobility and access are also strong, sitting close together in the mid-eighties. Return is the weakest pillar and sits far below the other three. Affordability is the pillar that stands out most clearly in the Azimuth profile, at the 94th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and mobility are close behind, both in the 84th percentile. Return is the weakest of the four, at the 27th percentile. The shape is a public campus where low net prices and broad access coexist with earnings that sit below what the model expects. The admitted-student profile at University of North Georgia shows 28.1% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. For access, Azimuth ranks University of North Georgia #238 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell recipients in the first-time full-time cohort complete at 36.4%, a rate that falls 0.9 percentage points below the figure for the entering cohort as a whole (37.3%). That small gap is what the access pillar measures. Azimuth ranks the university #232 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students, which contrasts with the mobility pillar's rank. [How value-added outcomes are assessed](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) · [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) University of North Georgia rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #255 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 84 **Access & reach** National percentile: 84 **[Affordability](/school/university-of-north-georgia/cost/)** National percentile: 94 **[Return on investment](/school/university-of-north-georgia/outcomes/)** National percentile: 27 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Human Services, General**#18** 2. Information Science/Studies**#34** 3. International Relations and National Security Studies**#38** This school’s three highest-ranked programs nationally. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ. [Explore major rankings](/school/university-of-north-georgia/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / University of North Georgia briefing ## [University of North Georgia cost & financial aid](/school/university-of-north-georgia/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) At University of North Georgia, the published cost of attendance is $18,177, but aid recipients have an average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) of $9,823, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships. The published budget includes in-state tuition and fees of $5,285 and room and board of $12,770; out-of-state tuition and fees are $16,503. For the average aid recipient, financial aid offsets $8,354 of the published cost. At comparable institutions (same type and size), the peer median net price is $15,634, and this university's average net price sits below it by $5,811. Azimuth places affordability in the 94th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Lower costs after aid and that affordability standing point the same way. The published cost of attendance at University of North Georgia is $18,177. Azimuth ranks the university #88 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. After grants and scholarships, aid recipients in the lowest family-income band (under $30,000) average $6,981, those in the lower-middle band ($30,001–$48,000) average $7,261, those in the middle band ($48,001–$75,000) average $10,118, those in the upper-middle band ($75,001–$110,000) average $12,059, and those in the highest band (over $110,000) average $13,481. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $6,500. The average aid recipient sees $8,354 in savings against the published cost. In-state tuition and fees are $5,285, and out-of-state students pay $16,503. The average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) across all aid recipients is $9,823, which is $5,811 below the peer median of $15,634 for comparable institutions (same type and size). Borrowers who finish carry a median of $17,750 in federal student loans. That is $2,326 below the peer median of $20,076 for comparable institutions. About 64.3% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $12,100 in [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) loans. If repaid over ten years, the median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $202 a month. Your family income Choose a household income range to see estimated net price. $0–30K$30–48K$48–75K$75–110K$110K+ Reported average annual net price · $48–75K**$10,118** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at University of North Georgia Borrowers who complete a degree at University of North Georgia leave with a median of $17,750 in federal student loans. That is $2,326 below the median of $20,076 for comparable institutions (same type and size). About 64.3% of federal aid recipients take a federal loan. If the median debt is repaid over ten years, it corresponds to an estimated payment of $202 a month. Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $12,100 in [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) loans. Affordability is University of North Georgia’s strongest pillar, yet the investment picture pairs lower debt with earnings that fall short of the model’s expectation. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $55,974 four years after completion. Azimuth places that earnings measure in the 36th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) also point downward. That measure captures the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students. Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students. Azimuth places this measure in the 20th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The downside and upside scenarios are $45,940 and $79,434, with the typical scenario matching the median earnings already noted. Median federal student loan debt is $17,750, $2,326 below the peer median of $20,076 at comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $202 a month if repaid over ten years. Lower borrowing and below-expected earnings present different signals for the investment assessment. Parent borrowing is a separate part of the cost picture: median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing is $12,100 among parent borrowers. For borrowers with median federal student debt, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $202 a month if repaid over ten years. [How Financial GPS measures payment burden](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) · [The four risk-and-reward zones](/analysis/4-zones-of-college-risk-and-reward/) Financial GPS ### What does repayment look like? **Institution median student debt** $17,750 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $12,100 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $202/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $154/mo Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s. Payment assumptions Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. [Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=university-of-north-georgia#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/university-of-north-georgia/cost/) 02 / University of North Georgia briefing ## [University of North Georgia career outcomes & earnings](/school/university-of-north-georgia/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) At University of North Georgia, the earnings picture falls below both the model and comparable institutions. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 27th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, falls in the 20th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $8,710. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $18,405. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $55,974 four years after completion, in the 36th percentile. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $65,610, with earnings $9,636 below it. The earnings picture for University of North Georgia graduates sits below both the peer median and what the model expects for similar students. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $55,974. That figure sits at the 36th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. That median is $9,636 below the $65,610 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students. That places the gap at the 20th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios estimated from the program mix run from $45,940 on the downside to $79,434 on the upside, with $55,974 as the typical outcome. These figures draw on an earnings cohort of 2,788 completers. An estimated 28.6% of graduates continue to graduate study, based on the program mix. Median earnings at $55,974 four years after completion place University of North Georgia in the 36th percentile. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $65,610, with the university's figure $9,636 below it. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, fall in the 20th percentile. Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $8,710. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $18,405. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $1,123. Earnings scenarios grounded in the program mix range from $45,940 on the downside to $79,434 on the upside. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 27th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing, the largest program, awarded 209 degrees and had median earnings of $81,887 four years after completion. Human Services awarded 22 degrees and had median earnings of $43,810; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #18 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions. Information Science/Studies awarded 26 degrees, with $77,821 in median earnings four years after completion and an Azimuth rank of #34 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions. The spread across these programs makes the return picture dependent on field choice. Program choice makes a wide difference in the earnings scenarios at University of North Georgia. The downside earnings scenario is $45,940, the typical scenario is $55,974, and the upside scenario is $79,434. These are scenarios based on the program mix, not observed groups of graduates. The published cost of attendance at University of North Georgia is $18,177, and the average net price for aid recipients is $9,823. The average net price is $5,811 below the $15,634 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size). Borrowers who complete carry a median of $17,750 in federal student loans, which is $2,326 below the $20,076 peer median. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $202 a month if repaid over ten years. Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $12,100. Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students. The net price and debt figures both run below their peer medians, while the earnings picture sits below what the model expects. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$8,710 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$18,405 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** \-$9,695 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. [Read the full outcomes brief](/school/university-of-north-georgia/outcomes/) 03 / University of North Georgia briefing ## [University of North Georgia acceptance rate & admissions](/school/university-of-north-georgia/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) At University of North Georgia, the admission rate of 67.9% indicates that more than half of applicants in the reported entering-class pool were admitted. That rate is below the median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size). SAT: reported composite scores **Admission rate** 67.9% **25th percentile** 1010 **Median** 1100 **75th percentile** 1200 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. [Read the full admissions brief](/school/university-of-north-georgia/admissions/) 04 / University of North Georgia briefing ## [What are the largest majors at University of North Georgia?](/school/university-of-north-georgia/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) Nursing pairs a large number of degrees awarded with higher earnings: 209 degrees awarded and median earnings of $81,887 four years after completion. Computer and Information Sciences recorded the highest median among these fields, $90,765, across 70 degrees awarded. These figures put health and computing at the higher-earning end of the university's major programs. Human Services had median earnings of $43,810 with 22 degrees awarded; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #18 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Information Science/Studies had median earnings of $77,821 and 26 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks it #34 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. The selected fields range from lower to very high earnings. Business accounts for 20.2% of bachelor’s degrees awarded, and University of North Georgia has 24 nationally ranked programs. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Human Services #18 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Information Science/Studies #34 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions. The program awarded 26 degrees, and its completers had median earnings of $77,821 four years after completion. These ranked fields show different award volumes and earnings figures, making field choice especially relevant here. The degree mix at University of North Georgia is broad, with 28 programs reporting four-year earnings and 24 carrying an Azimuth national rank. Business is the largest family, accounting for 20.2% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Health Professions at 10.2% and Education at 8.0%. The largest single programs are Nursing with 209 degrees awarded, Business Administration and Management at 197, and Teacher Education at 176. The highest-ranked program is Human Services, which awards 22 degrees a year and ranks #2 in Georgia within its field. Information Science/Studies carries a national rank, at #34 within its field and #3 in Georgia. Its graduates earn $77,821 four years out. The highest-earning program is Computer and Information Sciences, where graduates earn a median of $90,765 and the program awards 70 degrees a year. Nursing, the largest program, is also the second-highest earner at $81,887. The pattern is one of strength concentrated in a few professional fields. The two ranked programs sit in Human Services and Information Science/Studies, while the highest earnings come from a technical program. Across all fields, 16.8% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 209 degrees awarded** $81,887 **Business Administration, Management and Operations 197 degrees awarded** $63,973 **Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 176 degrees awarded** $50,102 **Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness 174 degrees awarded** $53,294 **Research and Experimental Psychology 155 degrees awarded** $47,919 **Biology, General 145 degrees awarded** $54,272 Fields selected by reported completions. Counts describe credentials awarded, not unique students or the earnings sample. Bars show median four-year earnings. [Read the full majors brief](/school/university-of-north-georgia/majors/) 05 / University of North Georgia briefing ## How does University of North Georgia serve students from different backgrounds? Mobility standing is high, but completion and earnings do not point uniformly upward. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 37.3%, and Pell recipients complete within six years at 36.4%, below the overall rate by 0.9 percentage points. Azimuth places the mobility pillar in the 84th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between graduate earnings and model expectations for similar students, is in the 20th percentile. Graduates earn about $9,695 less than the model expects for similar students. The high mobility position and below-expected earnings point in different directions. At University of North Georgia, admissions, Pell participation, and transfer entry shape the access picture. The university admitted 67.9% of applicants and enrolls 16,146 undergraduates. Azimuth places its access pillar in the 84th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell Grant recipients make up 28.1% of undergraduates, with an estimated 22.5% arriving as transfers or part-time students. These figures show how admission and enrollment routes meet at the university. 06 / University of North Georgia briefing ## [What colleges are similar to University of North Georgia?](/school/university-of-north-georgia/similar/)[\[15\]](#hub-data-note-peers) Azimuth groups alternatives by admissions, location, cost and earnings, then orders candidates within each group. Peer earnings use the matched four-year cohort. [How matching works](/school/university-of-north-georgia/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with University of North Georgia. Admissions peerKennesaw State University69.2% admitted+ Comparison with University of North Georgia | Measure | University of North Georgia | Kennesaw State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $55,974 | $68,306+$12,332 vs University of North Georgia | | Average annual net price | $9,823 | $15,048+$5,225 vs University of North Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 67.9% | 69.2% | [Explore Kennesaw State University →](/school/kennesaw-state-university/) Higher-admission alternativeGeorgia Gwinnett College95.5% admitted+ Comparison with University of North Georgia | Measure | University of North Georgia | Georgia Gwinnett College | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $55,974 | $56,872+$898 vs University of North Georgia | | Average annual net price | $9,823 | $15,844+$6,021 vs University of North Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 67.9% | 95.5% | [Explore Georgia Gwinnett College →](/school/georgia-gwinnett-college/) Nearby alternativeGeorgia Gwinnett CollegeNearby option · GA+ Comparison with University of North Georgia | Measure | University of North Georgia | Georgia Gwinnett College | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $55,974 | $56,872+$898 vs University of North Georgia | | Average annual net price | $9,823 | $15,844+$6,021 vs University of North Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 67.9% | 95.5% | [Explore Georgia Gwinnett College →](/school/georgia-gwinnett-college/) Higher-earnings alternativeUniversity of Illinois Chicago$72,839 earnings+ Comparison with University of North Georgia | Measure | University of North Georgia | University of Illinois Chicago | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $55,974 | $72,839+$16,865 vs University of North Georgia | | Average annual net price | $9,823 | $10,974+$1,151 vs University of North Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 67.9% | 77.4% | [Explore University of Illinois Chicago →](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/) Lower-cost alternativeTrinity International University-Illinois$2,835 average net price+ Comparison with University of North Georgia | Measure | University of North Georgia | Trinity International University-Illinois | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $55,974 | $51,985\-$3,989 vs University of North Georgia | | Average annual net price | $9,823 | $2,835\-$6,988 vs University of North Georgia · lower cost | | Admission rate | 67.9% | 100.0% | Similar profileMiddle Tennessee State UniversityMatched across several measures+ Comparison with University of North Georgia | Measure | University of North Georgia | Middle Tennessee State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $55,974 | $54,525\-$1,449 vs University of North Georgia | | Average annual net price | $9,823 | $13,359+$3,536 vs University of North Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 67.9% | 69.1% | [Explore Middle Tennessee State University →](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/) Each school is the first-ranked match in its category, not a recommendation across every measure. The same college may lead more than one category. Figures use the matching snapshot; earnings reflect the matched four-year cohort. — means unavailable. [Read the full similar schools brief](/school/university-of-north-georgia/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 30, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 30, 2026 Four-year earnings describe cohorts of completers. Figures for other horizons describe different cohorts and are not joined into a career-growth projection. Azimuth's overall rank and pillar percentiles come from the school profile. Absolute pillar ranks, city, enrollment and official-site links are shown only when structured data supplies them. Detailed earnings, cost, admissions and program values come from the endpoint responsible for each measure. Missing values are not replaced with zero. Value-added estimates are model associations, not causal effects. Figures are refreshed with each data release, at most a quarter apart. The underlying source dates can be earlier than the release. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. [Read the ranking methodology, data definitions and limitations](/methodology/) · [About College Azimuth](/about/) Read the analysis behind [value-added earnings](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the [change to four-year graduate earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). These articles are published on collegeazimuth.com. ## Data notes & source fields Scorecard field codes identify the underlying measure; Azimuth-derived values are labeled separately. Snapshot dates are not measurement years. Source populations and reporting periods differ across measures. Field definitions are in the [U.S. Department of Education · College Scorecard documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf); notes with a different source link it below. 1. **Admission rate.** Reported applicants admitted; not a transfer-specific or individual admission probability. Source fields: `ADM_RATE` 2. **Six-year completion.** First-time, full-time students completing at the institution within 150% of normal time, typically six years for a bachelor’s degree. Source fields: `C150_4` 3. **Four-year institutional earnings.** Median earnings of graduates in the reported cohort who are working and not enrolled, four years after completion. Source fields: `MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` 4. **Median federal student debt.** Federal student-loan debt among completers in the reported borrowing cohort. Excludes Parent PLUS and is not total debt across all students. Source fields: `GRAD_DEBT_MDN` 5. **National, regional and state ranks; pillar percentiles; major ranks.** Derived scores within the stated eligible comparison set, not raw Scorecard fields. Major ranks compare institutions within a field; their denominators differ. Source fields: `Azimuth rankings` [College Azimuth · Ranking methodology](/methodology/) 6. **Annual net price by family income.** Average annual cost after grants and scholarships for the eligible first-time, full-time aid-recipient cohort. Public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. Includes living costs; these are averages, not medians or individual offers. Source fields: `NPT4_PUB/PRIV; NPT41_PUB/PRIV through NPT45_PUB/PRIV` 7. **Parent PLUS debt, payments and GPS illustration.** Stored payments use Financial GPS loan and repayment assumptions. The adjustable spectrum applies the published framework to annual student payments divided by earnings minus an expense allowance; its initial allowance uses the frozen 2024 framework baseline. It is an illustration rather than a school rating. Parent PLUS uses the completer median where available, otherwise the all-borrower median; these describe different borrowing populations. Source fields: `PLUS_DEBT_ALL_COMP_MD; fallback PLUS_DEBT_ALL_MD; Azimuth Financial GPS calculations` [College Azimuth · Financial GPS methodology](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) 8. **Downside and upside earnings; yellow band.** The band spans the modeled lower and higher scenarios. It is not the P25–P75 interval for individual graduates. The median marker is the separately reported institutional median. Source fields: `Azimuth modeled program-mix scenarios` [College Azimuth · Earnings scenario methodology](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) 9. **Value added and its components.** Observed-factor attribution plus the unexplained remainder equals total modeled value added. These are associations, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. Source fields: `Azimuth statistical model` [College Azimuth · Value-added methodology](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) 10. **SAT score range and reported midpoint.** Reported scores of enrolled score-submitters, not admission cutoffs. The midpoint field is not necessarily the middle of the displayed range. Source fields: `SATVR25 + SATMT25; SATVR75 + SATMT75; SAT_AVG` 11. **First-year retention.** Retention of the reported full-time cohort at four-year institutions. Source fields: `RET_FT4` 12. **Program earnings, completion counts and major-mix dots.** Included bachelor’s programs have at least five reported completions. Counts are aggregated credentials, not unique people or an earnings sample. Major-mix dots group those counts by field of study; excluded programs are not zero activity. Source fields: `EARN_MDN_4YR; IPEDSCOUNT1; CIPCODE` [College Scorecard · Field-of-study technical documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/assets/FieldOfStudyDataDocumentation.pdf) 13. **Pell recipients.** Share of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant in the reported academic year. Source fields: `PCTPELL` 14. **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group.** This is not an observed transfer-in rate. It includes part-time entrants and other entering-student attendance patterns. Source fields: `1 − PFTFTUG1_EF` 15. **Peer earnings and signed differences.** Differences are peer minus this school, from the same matching snapshot. A positive earnings difference does not mean the peer is better on every measure. Source fields: `Azimuth peer model using MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` [College Azimuth · Comparison methodology](/methodology/) [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)