Oglethorpe University
#6 Best Business Colleges in Georgia- Graduation Rate
- 54% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $55,232 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $19,509 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 88% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Business Colleges in Georgia.
Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,474,026.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 35% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.34% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Oglethorpe University Matters
Oglethorpe University is a private liberal arts college in Atlanta, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,352
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Psychology
Why students choose Oglethorpe University
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
Accessible — admits about 88% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1090–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,509 a year after grants and scholarships — 14% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,232 ten years after enrolling — 35% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 20% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.57 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Eighty-eight percent of applicants gain admission to Oglethorpe University, making it an accessible choice for students in Atlanta and beyond. With an enrollment of 1,352, this private nonprofit school provides a close-knit community that supports individual growth.
Graduates from Oglethorpe earn a median salary of $55,232 ten years after enrolling. While the graduation rate stands at 54%, the data hints at a challenging path for some students. The school has a 36% Pell Grant rate, indicating a commitment to helping low-income students, although specific mobility rates are not available.
The net price of attendance is $19,509, with a median debt of $25,000 upon graduation. Students who thrive here often pursue majors in Business, Biology, Visual Arts, Social Sciences, or Psychology. The environment is supportive, fostering a strong sense of community and personal development.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Oglethorpe University 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 Oglethorpe University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Atlanta, Georgia, Oglethorpe University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,227. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 1227
- ACT Midpoint
- 27
- SAT Range
- 1090–1310
- ACT Range
- 22–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,901
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.79
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 2,816
- Admitted
- 1,999
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 Oglethorpe University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oglethorpe University is $47,590, 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 $19,509. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,207 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $47,590
- Out-of-State
- $47,590
- Avg Net Price
- $19,509
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 68%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,207
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,558
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,745
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,055
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 Oglethorpe University — 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 Oglethorpe University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oglethorpe University earn a median of $55,232, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,691
- 8 Years
- $50,337
- 10 Years
- $55,232
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (110)
- 40%
- 100% (110)
- 40%
- 100% (110)
- 40%
- 100% (110)
- 40%
How Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Oglethorpe University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,509/year ($78,036 total). Graduates earn $55,232 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,552,062 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,474,026 (19.9× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $78,036
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,552,062
- Net Return
- $1,474,026
- ROI Multiple
- 19.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,509
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 54%
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 Oglethorpe University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oglethorpe University 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 2.34%, among the highest in the country. About 7.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.34%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,963
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,000,000
- Investment Income
- $-4,058,768
Top Programs
The fields Oglethorpe University 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.
- Business & Marketing 27% $68,618 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $25,014 early-career
- Social Sciences 11%
- Psychology 10% $43,569 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8%
- Communications 7%
- English & Literature 4% $41,024 early-career
- Physical Sciences 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 Oglethorpe University'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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Oglethorpe University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Atlanta, Georgia, Oglethorpe University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,227. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Oglethorpe University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Oglethorpe University is $47,590, 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 $19,509. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,207 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Oglethorpe University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Oglethorpe University earn a median of $55,232, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Oglethorpe University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Oglethorpe University 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 2.34%, among the highest in the country. About 7.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Oglethorpe University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oglethorpe University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Oglethorpe University.
- Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, IL · Close peer41% grad $54,089 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Montana Technological UniversityButte, MT · Close peer58% grad $54,329 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carlow UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Close peer58% grad $51,051 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TX · Close peer48% grad $54,771 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer58% grad $55,362 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Georgian Court UniversityLakewood, NJ · Close peer54% grad $53,096 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Oglethorpe University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Oglethorpe University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note