Elementary Education Degree in Columbus, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Elementary Education degree analysis for Columbus, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$46K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Columbus
Cost of Living
84.5
index (100 = avg)
Elementary Education in Columbus, GA Overview
Columbus, Georgia (pop. 206,922) has 8 colleges offering Elementary Education programs. The local cost of living index of 84.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $525/month. Although national enrollment in Elementary Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Lesson Planning and Classroom Management remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Columbus is approximately $42,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,183/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,227/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
75%
Elementary Education Salary in Columbus (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbus's cost of living index of 84.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Elementary Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Columbus adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Elementary Education ROI Calculator for Columbus
Estimate your return on investment for a Elementary Education degree using local Columbus tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $32,000
Columbus avg aid: $10,227/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,675
vs HS diploma in Columbus
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbus
$140,668
Lifetime earnings premium ($236,600) minus total education cost ($95,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Elementary Education in Columbus
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbus for Elementary Education
Columbus State University
public
$10,056/yr
$40,224 total
University of Columbus
public
$10,212/yr
$40,848 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbus Community College
$5,412/yr
Georgia Technical College - Columbus
$5,084/yr
Top Employers for Elementary Education in Columbus
Columbus offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Elementary Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbus Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Elementary Education Job Titles
Elementary Education in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$52K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Columbus
Instructional Design & Technology
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$42K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Special Education
$42K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Elementary Education Degree in Columbus — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Elementary Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbus.