Now, more than ever, the cost of college is a concern for future college students and their families. It's no secret that the sticker price for attending a private college is typically significantly more than that of a public university. But, this is just what you see at surface level...

Nationally, about two-thirds of full time students attending private colleges receive aid from that college - bringing the cost of attending a private college down to the point that it may even be less expensive than your local public university. According to the Georgia Independent College Association (GICA), private colleges in Georgia graduate students faster (read: in four years) than public universities do (49% versus 27%). At Agnes Scott College, we are committed to providing you with an undergraduate experience that is transformative, purposeful and valuable in more ways than one.

But first, your research likely begins with cost, so we'll start there too...

The literal cost of attending Agnes Scott, literally.

This year, THE COST OF ATTENDING AGNES SCOTT is just over $61,500 annually - significantly less than some other private, liberal arts colleges. In spite of the rising cost of providing the premier educational experiences our prospective students expect and befitting of one of the "Seven Sisters of the South," we have been committed to keeping annual tuition increases as low as possible.

But, some things included in a "cost of attendance" can't be summed up with a price tag. Click through to explore just a few things that add value to the Agnes Scott experience...

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PURPOSEFUL LEARNING: There is no price tag for a world-class education. Agnes Scott is nationally recognized as a leader in undergraduate education, including being #3 in the country for commitment to teaching and #1 in the nation for innovation among liberal arts colleges as a result of our unique SUMMIT experience. With a 12:1 student to faculty ratio and a strong mentorship and advising model, our students find ample opportunity to interact directly with award-winning faculty and have career guidance starting in their first year.

LIVING ON CAMPUS: Recognized as #3 in the nation for "learning communities," Agnes Scott's vibrant living-learning environment is a big part of what makes a liberal arts education a great return on investment. Atlanta-Decatur excursions, on-campus social activities and hands-on learning experiences are only a few of the benefits. During your first-year, a furnished double occupancy room and laundry facility in a residence hall is fully covered. All first-years have a 21-meal/week plan, which covers meals in our Evans Dining Hall, Mollie's Grill and Black Cat Cafe.

SUMMIT GLOBAL JOURNEY: Fully funded by donors, your first-year SUMMIT Global Journeys course and faculty-led Global Immersion Week (when safe to do so) are the top reasons we are #1 in the nation for First-Year Experience. Your lodging, meals, excursions and plane tickets come at no extra cost to you.

CONNECTIONS THAT LAST: Traditions and our welcoming community are a major part of the appeal of Agnes Scott. A favorite and deeply meaningful tradition at Agnes Scott, the Sophomore Ring Ceremony, is an annual event where sophomores become members of the college's #blackringmafia, a term coined to describe Agnes Scott graduates who wear the college's signature black onyx ring. A petition in 2018 by the Student Government Association resulted in the Onyx Ring Fund, which covers the cost of one Agnes Scott black onyx ring for all sophomore students, a value of over $350. Through the black ring, generations of Scotties are connected no matter where their paths lead them.

CAREER PREPARATION: Our dedication to your future achievements is evidenced in SUMMIT, which builds purposeful momentum toward a student’s goals through combining forward-thinking, individualized classroom and real-world experiences with strong mentorship, leading to professional success. Examples include professional development and career exploration excursions like our Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE) that partners you with a local business or non-profit for a week during your sophomore year (fully funded by the college), and our SUMMIT Career Connect model that introduces you to a network of successful alumnae (over 400, to be exact!). One-third of our undergraduates complete two or more internships. Our internship program is currently ranked #11 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

A Journey of Value

Student Success Story

Leah Trotman '21 took full advantage of all the opportunities available to her at Agnes Scott, including studying abroad twice, serving as a Peer Advisor, acting as a member of SGA and submitting an academic paper for publication. Leah was named both a Truman and a Marshall Scholar, the last of which made her the first ever recipient from the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Beyond the Dollar Sign: What We Do for You

The cost of a top-notch education should not be a barrier to access. At Agnes Scott, 100% of our students receive merit-based scholarships and/or need-based aid (money that doesn't have to be paid back), reducing the total cost of their college attendance by 57%. We believe in giving you an opportunity to excel at Agnes Scott regardless of your financial situation, and we are committed to making our unique private college education accessible and affordable to qualified students.

“The likelihood that students will only pay for four years at Agnes Scott is much higher than that at public universities in Georgia. For example, the 4-year graduation rate at ASC is 49 points higher than that at Georgia public universities (69% versus 20%).”

There's a reason Agnes Scott is consistently recognized as a top institution for social mobility- providing a pathway through and beyond college for underserved students...

• 62% of degree-seeking undergraduates are underrepresented minorities.
• One-third of undergraduate students are first generation college students.
• 72% of first generation college students at Agnes Scott earn a bachelor's degree in six years, compared to only 44% nationally.
• Over 40% of Agnes Scott students with significant financial need receive the Pell Grant (a value of up to $6,495).
• 100% of full-time, first-time undergraduates are awarded ANY financial assistance in the form of scholarships and financial aid.
• The average four-year graduation rate of all students is 67%.
• The average retention rate for non-first generation students is 83%, while the average retention rate for first-generation students is slightly higher at 85%, which speaks to the college's variety of resource and support services.

Bonus Bookmark: Learn about the college's commitment to JUSTICE, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Aid Available to You

Institutional Aid
Agnes Scott's merit-based aid opportunities range from $23,000-$26,000, with special scholarship opportunities ranging from $500-$5,000. One hundred percent of first-time, full-time undergraduates receive institutional aid, such as the $23,000 Agnes Assurance Scholarship or the full tuition, room and board Marvin B. Perry Presidential Scholarship.

See more on Agnes Scott's institutional aid opportunities

State Aid
You qualify as a Georgia resident if your permanent address was in the state of Georgia for the 12 months immediately preceding your enrollment at Agnes Scott. The Georgia HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships are available to qualified in-state students (students can only qualify for one or the other). Consider these facts:

• 59% of in-state Agnes Scott students receive the Georgia HOPE, a scholarship amount of up to $4,304 per year.
• 23% of in-state Agnes Scott students receive the Zell Miller, a scholarship value of up to $5,616 per year.
• The average percent of need met by the full scholarship and financial aid package for in-state students is 87%. 
• Agnes Scott meets close to 70% of in-state degree-seeking students' need with institutional aid.

SEE MORE ON AID FOR GEORGIA RESIDENTS

Federal Aid
Federal aid and additional Agnes Scott grants are awarded based on eligible students' submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to Agnes Scott. Pell grants for students with significant financial need are awarded up to $6,495 and Stafford Loans are awarded up to $5,500 for your first year. Even if you think you won't qualify, complete the FAFSA. To complete, you'll need the Agnes Scott College FAFSA school code: 001542.

Want to Know How We Stack Up to the Competition?

Visualizing value can be hard; so, we've placed some of our data on our competitors and/or other liberal arts colleges from our Office of Institutional Research in this simple to digest chart.

Peer-to-Peer Value

*Agnes Scott College data provided by the Office of Institutional Research.

*Page last updated: 3/29/2022