Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of West Georgia #268 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of West Georgia sits in the 36.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $5,122 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #205 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of West Georgia's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern across access, mobility, and earnings — graduates earn median $58,022 four years after enrollment, placing the university in the 33.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's standing on mobility and earnings beyond expectations together signal that students here tend to outperform what their backgrounds and institutional context would predict.
Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #268 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Carrollton, GA, University of West Georgia enrolls roughly 7,520 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 77.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 43.5%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by mobility and access. 40.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.9% are first-generation college students, signaling that University of West Georgia serves a broad, cost-sensitive population. Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #1005 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $58,022 four years after enrollment, and earn about $5,122 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of West Georgia in the 36.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business shapes much of that earnings profile. Access and affordability sit in the 89.8 and 76.8 percentiles for access and affordability, respectively, among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility ranks in the 86.1 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. With an admission rate of 51.6%, University of West Georgia maintains a broad-access admissions posture that keeps enrollment open to a wide range of students. For families weighing long-term financial outcomes against upfront cost, the institution's combination of accessible entry and competitive graduate earnings makes it a meaningful option in the GA public university landscape.
University of West Georgia's published cost of attendance is $21,981. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $10,339, middle-income families pay around $12,957, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,810. Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #331 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. As a public regional university, West Georgia's pricing structure reflects state funding and need-based aid distribution. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying students. Financial aid reduces the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, though the magnitude of that reduction depends on individual circumstances and aid eligibility. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,970, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,047; 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 $58,022, median federal debt of $23,970 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of West Georgia is a strong fit for students in GA who want an accessible public university with a clear path into business and applied professional careers, particularly those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds who need meaningful financial aid alongside solid post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,022, placing University of West Georgia in the 33.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $5,122 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of West Georgia in the 36.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. With 40.4% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.9% identifying as first-generation students, University of West Georgia serves a broad access population — and 48.0% of Pell-eligible students complete their degrees, a meaningful signal for families weighing whether the investment pays off. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes, and the institution admits roughly 51.6% of applicants, making it broadly accessible to most qualified students in the region.
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 University Of West Georgia 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.
University of West Georgia's published cost of attendance is $21,981. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $10,339, middle-income families pay around $12,957, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,810.
Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #331 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.
As a public regional university, West Georgia's pricing structure reflects state funding and need-based aid distribution. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying students.
Financial aid reduces the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, though the magnitude of that reduction depends on individual circumstances and aid eligibility. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,970, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,047; 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 $58,022, median federal debt of $23,970 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 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 University of West Georgia earn median 4-year earnings of $58,022, placing the institution in the 33.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,122 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of West Georgia in the 36.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to GA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern reflects the university's strong focus on Business, which represents 26% of graduates. Business Administration, Management and Operations is the largest program with 177 graduates earning median earnings of $62,588 four years after enrollment. Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #289 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning $43,731. The Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program also delivers solid outcomes, ranking #206 nationally with earnings of $86,904.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
21 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
155 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
55 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
63 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
58 graduates
University of West Georgia's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across education, health, and social-science fields as well — a signature consistent with a regional public university serving a broad range of career-oriented students in Georgia. The university's largest programs by graduate count include Business Administration, Psychology, General, and Nursing, alongside Teacher Education and Biology, General.
Across 36 programs tracked in the Azimuth coverage set, 24 meet the ranking threshold, serving roughly 1,789 graduates annually. The program combining the strongest enrollment scale with competitive earnings is Nursing.
Among the highest-earning programs, Nursing leads with median earnings of $86,904 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #152 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Management Information Systems and Services follows with median earnings of $70,574 — Azimuth ranks it #48 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Digital Marketing rounds out the top quartile with median earnings of $63,104 — Azimuth ranks it #101 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs reflect the institution's strength in applied business and professionally oriented fields where graduates enter the workforce directly, and their rankings are described further in [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Several of University of West Georgia's larger programs — including Psychology, General and Nursing — follow more mixed pathways, with some graduates entering the workforce and others continuing to graduate study, which means four-year earnings figures reflect only part of the long-term trajectory for those fields. 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 Georgia's regional labor-market demand and national hiring trends.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Clayton State University Higher acceptance rate (21.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 44 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 71% | $49,179 | Compare |
University Of North Georgia Higher acceptance rate (22.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 92 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 72% | $50,135 | Compare |
Georgia Gwinnett College Higher acceptance rate (46.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 69 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 96% | $47,730 | Compare |
Valdosta State University Higher acceptance rate (34.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | GA | 83% | $49,361 | Compare |
Southern Virginia University Higher acceptance rate (50.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 100% | $50,002 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Michigan-Flint Similar quality tier (#10749 ranked) | MI | 70% | $53,230 | #10749 | Compare |
Tarleton State University Similar quality tier (#10750 ranked) | TX | 90% | $53,040 | #10750 | Compare |
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Similar quality tier (#10743 ranked) | TX | 91% | $51,450 | #10743 | Compare |
William Paterson University Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#10755 ranked) | NJ | 90% | $57,780 | #10755 | Compare |
Tennessee Technological University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#10757 ranked) | TN | 76% | $48,501 | #10757 | Compare |
