Private Nonprofit · Atlanta, Georgia

Oglethorpe University

Oglethorpe University is a private nonprofit institution in Atlanta, Georgia. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.

$55,232
10-yr median earnings
88.4%
Acceptance rate
$19,509
Avg net price / yr
54.0%
150%-time completion

The verdict

Oglethorpe University pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with open admission.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 21%
former-student earnings, US
88.4%
acceptance rate
54.0%
150%-time completion
+29%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
Suburb: Large Carnegie: Bacc: A&S
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Oglethorpe University profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

D
College Value Score
49/100
Oglethorpe University

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings B+
$55,232
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$19,509
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate D
54.0%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$25,000
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment C+
64.5%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention D
73.3%
First-year students returning for year two
Oglethorpe University vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$55,232

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$19,509

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

54.0%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 54.0%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Oglethorpe University vs peers

Oglethorpe University positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Oglethorpe University positioned by earnings… Carnegie Classification: Bacc: A&S Bacc: A&S COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $23K $84K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $13K $40K Avg Net Price ($) Oglethorpe University (you are here): $55K earn · $20K net · 54% grad You are here - Oglethorpe Univers… Piedmont University: $49K earn · $21K net · 44% grad Piedmont University Reinhardt University: $47K earn · $24K net · 39% grad Reinhardt University Brenau University: $54K earn · $19K net · 34% grad Brenau University Shorter University: $45K earn · $17K net · 37% grad Shorter University Thomas University: $50K earn · $18K net · 28% grad Thomas University Emory University-Oxford College: $80K earn · $38K net · 94% grad Interactive College of Technology-Chamblee: $27K earn · $16K net · 38% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Oglethorpe University ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Oglethorpe University: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$55,232 Top 21% higher than 79% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Oglethorpe University National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $55,232 #1080 of 5103 79th
Average net price $19,509 #2990 of 5020 40th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 54.0% #2667 of 4858 45th
Undergraduate enrollment 1,352 #1872 of 5462 66th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

1,352
Undergraduate enrollment
88.4%
Acceptance rate
1,227
SAT average
54.0%
150%-time completion
$55,232
10-yr median earnings
73.3%
First-year retention

How Oglethorpe University ranks in Georgia

State rank among 141 reporting Georgia colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Oglethorpe University State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $55,232 #15 of 141 89th
Average net price $19,509 #79 of 127 38th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 54.0% #33 of 123 73rd
Undergraduate enrollment 1,352 #60 of 133 55th

Highest former-student earnings in Georgia

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Miami Ad School-Atlanta$106,192$60,682
2Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$102,772$12,116
3Chamberlain University-Georgia$92,405$33,188
4United States University$80,980-
5Emory University$80,137$22,585
6Emory University-Oxford College$80,137$37,920
7University of Georgia$68,726$13,936
8Galen Health Institutes-Savannah$61,480-
9Grady Health System Professional Schools$60,726-
10Spelman College$59,993$38,967
11Mercer University$58,354$23,847
12Georgia College & State University$58,140$20,686
15Oglethorpe UniversityThis school$55,232$19,509

Admissions

Admission Rate 88.4%
SAT Average 1,227
SAT Math (25th-75th) 540 – 650
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 550 – 660
ACT Average 27
ACT (25th-75th) 22 – 31
0%100%88.5%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Oglethorpe University

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Oglethorpe University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $47,590
Out-of-State Tuition $47,590
Average Net Price $19,509
36.0%
Pell Grant Rate
68.4%
Federal Loan Rate
$25,000
Median Debt
$265/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Oglethorpe University swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $14,079 to $22,523 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +10.2%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$14,079
Highest year
$22,523
Most recent (2023)
$21,735
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $19,7212014: $20,1682015: $19,9362016: $20,1652017: $22,0182018: $21,5152019: $22,1262020: $22,5232021: $14,0792022: $20,6382023: $21,735
2013 · $19,7212023 · $21,735

Over the same years, enrollment went +40.1% (1,020 → 1,429 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

60.1%
Female
19.9%
First Generation

Outcomes

73.3%
Retention Rate
$42,691
Median Earnings (6yr)
62.4%
Earning Over $25K
64.5%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 54.0%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 73.3%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $42,691
Median earnings 10 years after entry $55,232
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 62.4%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 64.5%
Median federal student debt At completion $25,000
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $265/mo

Programs & Earnings

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 50 $54,609 $25,000
Psychology, General Bachelor's - $49,396 $27,000
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Bachelor's 1 $48,774 $27,000
Biology, General Bachelor's 43 - $27,000
Fine and Studio Arts Bachelor's 9 - -
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 9 - -

Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Oglethorpe University?
Oglethorpe University is a private nonprofit institution in Atlanta, Georgia. The acceptance rate is 88.4%. The average SAT score is 1,227. Undergraduate enrollment is 1,352 students.
How much do Oglethorpe University former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Oglethorpe University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $55,232 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $42,691.
How much does Oglethorpe University cost?
The average net price at Oglethorpe University is $19,509. In-state tuition is $47,590 and out-of-state tuition is $47,590. Median student debt at graduation is $25,000.
What is the graduation rate at Oglethorpe University?
Oglethorpe University has a 54.0% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 73.3%.
Is Oglethorpe University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Oglethorpe University is $25,000, while former students earn a median of $55,232 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 45% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 64.5% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $265.

Sources & methodology

Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.

Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Oglethorpe University

Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.