1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. University of West Georgia Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # University of West Georgia GA · Medium public institution · Overall rank #267 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-west-georgia/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-west-georgia/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-west-georgia/admissions/)[Majors](/school/university-of-west-georgia/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/university-of-west-georgia/similar/) ## An 82nd overall standing among nonprofit four-year institutions. ### Who it’s a good fit for The University of West Georgia is a public university in Carrollton, Georgia, where the degree mix is led by Business and Health Professions. Most graduates are estimated to go into work rather than further study, and access is well above average. Graduates earn less than the model predicts for students like them. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures adds to expected earnings, while the part it attributes to a remainder it cannot explain subtracts from them. Return is modestly below average. Access is well above average and mobility is well above average. Pell recipients complete above the rate for the cohort as a whole. What families pay at both ends of the income scale sits below the published cost of attendance. The admission rate is below the median for comparable institutions, and the degree mix leans toward professional fields. A student drawn to the largest programs should know that Nursing and Computer and Information Sciences, though smaller, report the highest earnings. ## University of West Georgia at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 51.6% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 43.5% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $58,022 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $12,957 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $23,970 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $15,047 ## University of West Georgia rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) University of West Georgia is a public university in Carrollton, Georgia, enrolling 7,520 undergraduates. Its composite standing in the Azimuth ranking sits in the top fifth among nonprofit four-year institutions (82nd percentile). The shape is a public campus where access and mobility are the strongest pillars, and return is the weakest. The university admits 51.6% of applicants, a rate well below the 85.9% median for comparable institutions of the same type and size. Of students who start full time, 77.5% return for a second year, against a peer median of 73.7%. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) is 43.5%, compared to a peer median of 49.1%. An estimated 37.5% of entrants arrive as transfers or part-time students. The four pillars sit far apart. Access is the strongest (90th percentile), and mobility is close behind (86th percentile). Affordability sits in the middle, while return is the weakest of the four (32nd percentile). The gap between the strongest and weakest pillars is wide. Access is the clearest strength at University of West Georgia, though the return picture is less favorable. Among nonprofit four-year institutions, access stands in the 90th percentile and mobility in the 86th percentile. Affordability is in the 77th percentile, while return, the weakest pillar, is in the 32nd percentile. Strong access, mobility, and affordability sit beside a weaker return result. 40.4% of undergraduates at University of West Georgia receive Pell Grants. Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #150 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell recipients complete at 48.0%, which is 4.5 percentage points above the overall [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) (43.5%). Azimuth ranks the university #206 for mobility. Graduates earn about $6,003 less than the model expects for similar students. [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 West Georgia rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #267 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 86 **Access & reach** National percentile: 90 **[Affordability](/school/university-of-west-georgia/cost/)** National percentile: 77 **[Return on investment](/school/university-of-west-georgia/outcomes/)** National percentile: 32 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management**#14** 2. Criminology**#40** 3. Management Information Systems and Services**#67** 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-west-georgia/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / University of West Georgia briefing ## [University of West Georgia cost & financial aid](/school/university-of-west-georgia/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) At University of West Georgia, aid recipients face an average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) of $12,786, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, rather than the full published cost. The standard cost of attendance is $21,981. In-state tuition and fees are $6,088, and room and board are $12,782; out-of-state tuition and fees are $17,800. Average financial aid offsets $9,195 from the published cost for aid recipients. The peer median net price at comparable institutions, those with the same type and size, is $14,068. The university's average is $1,282 below that benchmark. Azimuth ranks University of West Georgia #328 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The lower peer comparison and the affordability ranking both point toward a lower average price after aid. At University of West Georgia, the published cost of attendance is $21,981, with aid-recipient prices varying by family income. Average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $10,339 in the lowest family-income band, $10,523 in the lower-middle band, $12,957 in the middle band, $15,471 in the upper-middle band, and $16,810 in the highest band. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $6,471. Azimuth ranks the university #328 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 42% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, an average savings of $9,195. Across all aid recipients, the average net price is $12,786. That figure is $1,282 below the peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), of $14,068. Published in-state tuition is $6,088, while out-of-state tuition is $17,800. Lower average pricing than comparable institutions sits alongside substantial average aid savings. For borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt is $23,970, and 86.6% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. This median is $2,741 above the $21,229 peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size). Median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing is $15,047. The median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $272 a month if repaid over ten years. 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**$12,957** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at University of West Georgia At University of West Georgia, federal borrowing is common, with 86.6% of federal aid recipients taking federal loans. Among completers who borrowed, median federal student loan debt at completion is $23,970. Against the peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), University of West Georgia carries $2,741 above $21,229. That places its typical federal borrowing above the comparable-school benchmark. Parents who borrowed through [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) are a separate population, with median borrowing of $15,047. Access is the strongest pillar at University of West Georgia, while return is the weakest. Median earnings four years after completion are $58,022 for federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled. The peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size) is $57,301, leaving this university $721 above that level. That figure lands in the 44th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,003 less than the model expects for similar students. That places the gap at the 32nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios estimated from the program mix range from $44,365 on the downside to $76,263 on the upside, with $58,022 as the typical outcome. Borrowers who finish carry a median of $23,970 in federal loans, $2,741 above the $21,229 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). If repaid over ten years, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $272 a month. Earnings sit slightly above the peer median but below what the model expects, while debt runs higher than at comparable institutions. For the separate population of parent borrowers, median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing stands at $15,047. For student borrowers with the median federal debt, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $272 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** $23,970 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $15,047 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $272/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $191/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-west-georgia#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/university-of-west-georgia/cost/) 02 / University of West Georgia briefing ## [University of West Georgia career outcomes & earnings](/school/university-of-west-georgia/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) Access is the strongest pillar at University of West Georgia, but return is the point of caution. Azimuth places the return pillar in the 32nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,003 less than the model expects for similar students. That earnings-beyond-expectations measure, the gap between graduate earnings and what the model expects for similar students, is in the 32nd 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 $5,067. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $11,070. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $58,022 four years after completion; Azimuth places that figure in the 44th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions with the same type and size, is $57,301, with earnings $721 above it. The return picture is mixed: earnings sit above peers but below the model’s expectation. At University of West Georgia, access is the strongest Azimuth pillar, while graduate earnings sit lower among nonprofit four-year institutions. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $58,022. The measure covers 2,692 completers, and Azimuth places it in the 44th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Modeled from the program mix, the typical earnings scenario is $58,022, with a downside scenario of $44,365 and an upside scenario of $76,263. These are scenarios rather than observed groups, showing the range associated with different program mixes. An estimated 31.1% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix rather than observed enrollment. The scenarios show that program choice matters within the university. Although access is the strongest Azimuth pillar, the return measures at University of West Georgia give a mixed reading. Median earnings are $58,022 four years after completion, in the 44th percentile. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $57,301, leaving the university $721 above that figure. Graduates earn about $6,003 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, sit in the 32nd percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $5,067. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $11,070. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $153. Downside and upside earnings scenarios grounded in the program mix are $44,365 and $76,263. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the return pillar #995 among nonprofit four-year institutions. The peer comparison is above the middle value, but the model-expectation measure is below it. Business Administration and Management is the largest listed program, with 177 degrees awarded and median earnings of $62,588 four years after completion. Azimuth ranks it #241 nationally in its field. Nursing had 155 degrees awarded and median earnings of $86,904; Azimuth ranks it #184 nationally in its field. Management Information Systems and Services recorded 63 degrees awarded, with median earnings of $70,574 four years after completion and an Azimuth national rank of #67 in its field. These programs span different earnings levels and field-specific national positions. Earnings differ sharply by field: earnings scenarios extend from $44,365 on the downside to $76,263 on the upside. These are scenarios based on program mix, not observed groups of graduates. Among the higher-earning fields, Computer and Information Sciences has median earnings of $93,769 four years after completion, Nursing posts $86,904, and Finance reaches $72,717. The modeled range and these program medians show distinct earnings paths by field. University of West Georgia has borrower debt above comparable peers, although its average net price sits below theirs. Among borrowers who completed, median federal student loan debt is $23,970. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $21,229, and the university’s figure is above it by $2,741. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $272 a month if repaid over ten years. Average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $12,786, below the $14,068 peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size) by $1,282. [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, adds another caution. Graduates earn about $6,003 less than the model expects for similar students. A lower net price sits alongside above-peer debt and below-expected earnings, leaving a mixed cost-and-return picture. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$5,067 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$11,070 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** \-$6,003 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-west-georgia/outcomes/) 03 / University of West Georgia briefing ## [University of West Georgia acceptance rate & admissions](/school/university-of-west-georgia/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) For the reported entering class, University of West Georgia admitted 51.6% of applicants, meaning admissions went to a little more than half of that pool. The figure sits below the median of 85.9% for comparable institutions (same type and size). Applicants should review the university's published academic profile and compare it with their own record before deciding where to apply. This rate records one applicant pool's outcome and does not estimate an individual applicant's odds. SAT: reported composite scores **Admission rate** 51.6% **25th percentile** 940 **Median** 1010 **75th percentile** 1130 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. [Read the full admissions brief](/school/university-of-west-georgia/admissions/) 04 / University of West Georgia briefing ## [What are the largest majors at University of West Georgia?](/school/university-of-west-georgia/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) The listed programs span higher and more moderate earnings four years after completion. Nursing had median earnings of $86,904 four years after completion and 155 degrees awarded; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #184 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Management Information Systems and Services recorded $70,574 and 63 degrees awarded, with an Azimuth national rank of #67 among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Health Sciences posted $43,308 with 75 degrees awarded; Azimuth places it #73 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. These figures show higher earnings in the first two fields and a more moderate figure in the third. The program roster includes several highly ranked fields with markedly different earnings figures. Business accounts for 26.1% of bachelor’s degrees awarded, and Azimuth has national rankings for 21 fields at University of West Georgia. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management #14 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field; it awarded 58 degrees, and median earnings four years after completion were $49,799. Criminology ranks #40, with 101 degrees awarded and $50,048 in median earnings four years after completion. The bachelor's degree mix at University of West Georgia is led by Business, which accounts for 26.1% of degrees awarded, followed by Health Professions at 15.3% and Social Sciences at 11.1%. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) 21 programs at the university, with published four-year earnings data covering 25 fields. The largest single program is Business Administration and Management, at 177 degrees awarded, with Psychology close behind at 176 and Nursing at 155. The highest-ranked program is Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, which Azimuth places #1 in Georgia within its field, from 58 degrees awarded a year. Criminology is also strong, ranking #40 nationally and #2 in Georgia, with 101 degrees awarded. The highest-earning program is a smaller one: Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn a median of $93,769 four years after completion, from 21 degrees awarded. Nursing, the third-largest program, is the second-highest earner at $86,904. Azimuth ranks it #184 nationally and #6 in Georgia within its field. The pattern is one of strength spread across several fields rather than concentrated in a single department. The highest-ranked programs include a specialized management field and a social science, while the highest earnings come from a computing program that awards only 21 degrees a year. The largest programs, Business Administration and Management and Psychology, earn less than the highest-earning fields, while Nursing combines scale with strong pay. Across all fields, 10.9% of degrees awarded are in STEM, and four-year earnings for fields where graduates commonly continue to graduate study may understate later trajectories. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Business Administration, Management and Operations 177 degrees awarded** $62,588 **Psychology, General 176 degrees awarded** $43,731 **Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 155 degrees awarded** $86,904 **Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 119 degrees awarded** $49,499 **Biology, General 115 degrees awarded** $47,252 **Journalism 111 degrees awarded** $47,891 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-west-georgia/majors/) 05 / University of West Georgia briefing ## How does University of West Georgia serve students from different backgrounds? Completion among Pell recipients exceeds the overall result at University of West Georgia. For the first-time full-time cohort, the [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) is 43.5%, and Pell recipients complete within six years at 48.0%, above the overall rate by 4.5 percentage points. Azimuth puts the mobility pillar in the 86th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,003 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 32nd percentile. The completion figures are stronger than the earnings-beyond-expectations result. Access stands out at University of West Georgia through a mix of admissions, Pell participation, and transfer entry. The university admits 51.6% of applicants and enrolls 7,520 undergraduates. Pell Grant recipients make up 40.4% of undergraduates, with an estimated 37.5% entering from transfer pathways. Among nonprofit four-year institutions, the access pillar sits in the 90th percentile, a placement that aligns with those entry measures. 06 / University of West Georgia briefing ## [What colleges are similar to University of West Georgia?](/school/university-of-west-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-west-georgia/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with University of West Georgia. Admissions peerGeorgia State University55.4% admitted+ Comparison with University of West Georgia | Measure | University of West Georgia | Georgia State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $58,022 | $58,898+$876 vs University of West Georgia | | Average annual net price | $12,786 | $15,931+$3,145 vs University of West Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 51.6% | 55.4% | [Explore Georgia State University →](/school/georgia-state-university/) Higher-admission alternativeGeorgia Gwinnett College95.5% admitted+ Comparison with University of West Georgia | Measure | University of West Georgia | Georgia Gwinnett College | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $58,022 | $56,872\-$1,150 vs University of West Georgia | | Average annual net price | $12,786 | $15,844+$3,058 vs University of West Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 51.6% | 95.5% | [Explore Georgia Gwinnett College →](/school/georgia-gwinnett-college/) Nearby alternativeGeorgia State UniversityNearby option · GA+ Comparison with University of West Georgia | Measure | University of West Georgia | Georgia State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $58,022 | $58,898+$876 vs University of West Georgia | | Average annual net price | $12,786 | $15,931+$3,145 vs University of West Georgia · higher cost | | Admission rate | 51.6% | 55.4% | [Explore Georgia State University →](/school/georgia-state-university/) Higher-earnings alternativeFlorida Polytechnic University$86,952 earnings+ Comparison with University of West Georgia | Measure | University of West Georgia | Florida Polytechnic University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $58,022 | $86,952+$28,930 vs University of West Georgia | | Average annual net price | $12,786 | $11,853\-$933 vs University of West Georgia · lower cost | | Admission rate | 51.6% | 57.5% | [Explore Florida Polytechnic University →](/school/florida-polytechnic-university/) Lower-cost alternativeUniversity of North Georgia$9,823 average net price+ Comparison with University of West Georgia | Measure | University of West Georgia | University of North Georgia | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $58,022 | $55,974\-$2,048 vs University of West Georgia | | Average annual net price | $12,786 | $9,823\-$2,963 vs University of West Georgia · lower cost | | Admission rate | 51.6% | 67.9% | [Explore University of North Georgia →](/school/university-of-north-georgia/) Similar profileNorthern Kentucky UniversityMatched across several measures+ Comparison with University of West Georgia | Measure | University of West Georgia | Northern Kentucky University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $58,022 | $58,429+$407 vs University of West Georgia | | Average annual net price | $12,786 | $8,191\-$4,595 vs University of West Georgia · lower cost | | Admission rate | 51.6% | 67.7% | [Explore Northern Kentucky University →](/school/northern-kentucky-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-west-georgia/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 27, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 27, 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/)