Paine College
#6 Best HBCUs for Social Work- Graduation Rate
- 17% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $33,338 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $16,670 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 95% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.5 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best HBCUs for Social Work.
Every $1 spent returns $14.5 over 20 years. Net gain: $902,481.
What The Data Says
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A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 17% — 71% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.04% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Paine College
Paine College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
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
- 388
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 71
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology, Communications
Why students choose Paine 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
Accessible — admits about 95% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,670 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $33,338 ten years after enrolling — 18% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 27% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.00 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Paine College has a remarkably high acceptance rate of 95%, making it accessible to a wide range of students. With an enrollment of just 388, this small college fosters a tight-knit community. Students looking for a welcoming environment may find Paine College particularly appealing.
The data on economic mobility is not available, but the college's student body includes a significant number of Pell Grant recipients—76%. This suggests that many students come from low-income backgrounds. While the graduation rate sits at just 17%, it reflects the challenges some students face in completing their degrees.
The net price for attending Paine College is $16,670, a figure that may be manageable for many students, especially those receiving financial aid. Graduates earn an average of $33,338 within ten years of completing their studies. Prospective students who thrive here are likely those who value community and support, and who are determined to navigate the academic hurdles that may come their way.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Paine 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 Paine College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Paine College, located in Augusta, Georgia, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 95%. The graduation rate is roughly 17%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Retention Rate
- 54%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $3,659
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.09
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
- Applicants
- 3,302
- Admitted
- 1,701
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 Paine College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Paine College is $14,596, 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 $16,670. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,322 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,596
- Out-of-State
- $14,596
- Avg Net Price
- $16,670
- Pell Grant Rate
- 76%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 76%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,322
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,959
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,233
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,388
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Paine College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Paine College report median earnings of $33,338, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $25,240
- 8 Years
- $28,213
- 10 Years
- $33,338
- Earning > $25K
- 31%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (14)
- 7%
- 100% (14)
- 7%
- 100% (14)
- 7%
- 100% (14)
- 7%
How Paine 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 Paine College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Paine College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,670/year ($66,680 total). Graduates earn $33,338 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $969,161 in total earnings — a net gain of $902,481 (14.5× your investment).. With a 17% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $66,680
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $969,161
- Net Return
- $902,481
- ROI Multiple
- 14.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,670
- Graduation Rate
- 17%
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 Paine College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Paine 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 2.04%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 30.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $36,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.04%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 30.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $36,800
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,057,987
- Investment Income
- $835,839
Top Programs
The fields Paine College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 44%
- Social Sciences 31%
- Psychology 14%
- Communications 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Paine 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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Paine College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Paine College, located in Augusta, Georgia, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 95%. The graduation rate is roughly 17%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Paine College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Paine College is $14,596, 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 $16,670. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,322 after need-based grants.
Is Paine College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Paine College report median earnings of $33,338, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Paine College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Paine 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 2.04%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 30.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $36,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Paine College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Paine College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.00, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.10), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Paine College.
- Herzing University-AtlantaAtlanta, GA · Close peer19% grad $36,909 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Herzing University-AkronAkron, OH · Close peer20% grad $36,909 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Herzing University-BirminghamBirmingham, AL · Close peer28% grad $36,909 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Rabbinical College of AmericaMorristown, NJ · Close peer20% grad $34,990 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Herzing University-New OrleansMetairie, LA · Close peer30% grad $36,909 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Herzing University-BrookfieldBrookfield, WI · Close peer41% grad $36,909 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Paine College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Paine College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.00, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.10), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note