Savannah State University
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 36.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $36.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $36.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,159,332.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Graduation of 27% — 54% below the national average.
Social mobility rate of 4.04% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $36.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Savannah State University Matters
Savannah State University is a public university in Savannah, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,833
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Humanities, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Savannah State 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
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,172 a year after grants and scholarships — 52% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,981 ten years after enrolling — 7% below the typical college, against $28,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 4.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 4% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.94 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Savannah State University serves 2,833 students, with a net price of just $8,172, making it an affordable option for many. This low cost makes it accessible, particularly for those who rely on financial aid. About 68% of students receive Pell Grants, highlighting the university's commitment to supporting low-income students.
Data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights reveals that graduates earn a median income of $37,981 ten years after enrollment. However, the graduation rate stands at only 27%. This suggests challenges for students in completing their degrees and achieving upward mobility. While the earnings potential is reasonable, the low graduation rate raises questions about student support and retention.
Students who thrive at Savannah State are likely those who actively seek resources and support. With programs in Business, Biology, Humanities, Criminal Justice, and Communications, the university caters to a diverse range of interests. Graduates may face a median debt of $28,000, which is significant but manageable when balanced against their average earnings.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Savannah State 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 Savannah State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Savannah State University, located in Savannah, Georgia, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 27%.
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 Savannah State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Savannah State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $19,043 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $8,172 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,739 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $28,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Savannah State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Savannah State University report median earnings of $37,981; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Savannah 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 Savannah State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Savannah State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,172/year ($32,688 total). Graduates earn $37,981 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,192,020 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,159,332 (36.5× your investment). The median debt is $28,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 27% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
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 Savannah State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Savannah State 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 4.04%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 24.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $45,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Savannah State University 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Savannah State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Savannah State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Savannah State University, located in Savannah, Georgia, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 27%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Savannah State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Savannah State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $19,043 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $8,172 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,739 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $28,000.
Is Savannah State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Savannah State University report median earnings of $37,981; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Savannah State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Savannah State 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 4.04%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 24.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $45,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Savannah State University? 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 Savannah State University, with an economic connectedness score of 0.94 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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 Savannah State University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Savannah State University? 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 Savannah State University, with an economic connectedness score of 0.94 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note