Georgia Highlands College
#4 Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia- Graduation Rate
- 21% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,184 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,928 A-
- 60% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,761
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 36.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $36.8 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia.
Every $1 spent returns $36.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $992,412.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 21% — 64% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $36.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Georgia Highlands College Matters
Georgia Highlands College is a public community college in Rome, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 4,761
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Georgia Highlands College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,928 a year after grants and scholarships — 60% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,184 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 49% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Georgia Highlands College serves 4,761 students and features a net price of just $6,928, making it an affordable option for many. With an emphasis on accessible education, it attracts a diverse student body.
The graduation rate stands at 21%, indicating that while many students start their journey here, challenges persist. The earnings for graduates ten years post-enrollment average $43,184, reflecting a solid return on investment for those who complete their degrees. However, the data on mobility and economic connectedness isn't available, providing limited insight into long-term changes in students' circumstances.
Students thrive in programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Criminal Justice. About 41% of students receive Pell Grants, highlighting the college's commitment to supporting low-income individuals. With a median debt of $12,000, graduates can enter the workforce with manageable financial burdens, positioning them for better opportunities in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #4 Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia
- #6 Best Online Nursing Programs in Georgia
- #8 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Georgia
- #9 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Georgia
- #13 Best Online Business Programs in Georgia
- #14 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia
- #17 Best Online Colleges in Georgia
- #20 Best Master's Programs in Georgia
Can I Get In?
How selective Georgia Highlands College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Georgia Highlands College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Rome, Georgia, Georgia Highlands College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 55%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,606
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.63
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgia Highlands College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Georgia Highlands College is $10,080, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,928. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,473 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,120
- Out-of-State
- $10,080
- Avg Net Price
- $6,928
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 41%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 17%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,473
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,989
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,827
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,363
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Georgia Highlands College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Georgia Highlands College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Georgia Highlands College report median earnings of $43,184, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,516
- 8 Years
- $38,965
- 10 Years
- $43,184
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
How Georgia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Georgia Highlands College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Georgia Highlands College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,928/year ($27,712 total). Graduates earn $43,184 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,020,124 in total earnings — a net gain of $992,412 (36.8× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 21% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $27,712
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,020,124
- Net Return
- $992,412
- ROI Multiple
- 36.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,928
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 21%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Georgia Highlands College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Georgia Highlands College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.48%, well above the typical college. About 8.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.48%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $103,257
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,475,595
- Federal Grants
- $106,328
- Investment Income
- $-4,425
Top Programs
The fields Georgia Highlands College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 56%
- Health Professions 33% $74,750 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Criminal Justice 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Georgia Highlands College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
- CTraining Manager$125,040 · 6% growthResilient 74
- CProduct Manager$125,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Georgia Highlands College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Rome, Georgia, Georgia Highlands College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Georgia Highlands College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Georgia Highlands College is $10,080, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,928. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,473 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Georgia Highlands College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Georgia Highlands College report median earnings of $43,184, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Georgia Highlands College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Georgia Highlands College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.48%, well above the typical college. About 8.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Georgia Highlands College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Georgia Highlands College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Georgia Highlands College.
- Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria, LA · Close peer35% grad $42,205 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, OK · Close peer14% grad $41,307 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mt Hood Community CollegeGresham, OR · Close peer25% grad $41,125 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Spokane Community CollegeSpokane, WA · Close peer35% grad $41,984 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Dalton State CollegeDalton, GA · Close peer28% grad $40,251 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Johns River State CollegePalatka, FL · Close peer47% grad $41,728 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Georgia Highlands College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Georgia Highlands College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note