College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Alabama State University

Montgomery, AL 3,322 Undergrads 32.6% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$22,028
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,889
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,502
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,889
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$34,502
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate32.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients70.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time89.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS44.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.6%
SAT Avg
977
SAT Reading
25th: 44448875th: 538
SAT Math
25th: 42145775th: 531
ACT Composite
25th: 161875th: 20

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$309k
-$87k
-$175k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$259k
-$137k
-$225k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$230k
-$166k
-$254k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-450%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-321%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-449%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-149%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,828
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,187
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$252k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$32,250
Earnings (5yr)
$37,881
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,621
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (2yr)
$23,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$286k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$32,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,530
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$32,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$33,188
Earnings (5yr)
$42,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$32,250
Earnings (5yr)
$46,679
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$50,215
Earnings (5yr)
$49,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k

Master's Degrees

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$54,592
Earnings (5yr)
$72,464
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$50,483
Earnings (5yr)
$66,045
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k

Doctoral Degrees

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$94,256
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.