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American Public University System
Charles Town, WV 38,976 Undergrads 22.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$16,358
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,104
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,409
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$9,104
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$44,409
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate22.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time8.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS53.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
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
+$392k
-$5k
-$93k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$359k
-$38k
-$125k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$333k
-$64k
-$152k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
Never
-383%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-258%
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-338%
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-118%
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
Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$7,880
Earnings (5yr)
$53,536
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
CertCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$8,881
Earnings (5yr)
$70,057
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Hospitality Administration/Management
CertCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
CertCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$7,125
Earnings (5yr)
$30,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Legal Support Services
CertCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,088
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CertCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,531
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Associate's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
AssocCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$17,086
Earnings (5yr)
$51,544
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,707
Earnings (5yr)
$57,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (5yr)
$60,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,003
Earnings (5yr)
$46,482
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Data Processing
AssocCIP: 1103
Median Debt
$18,018
Earnings (5yr)
$60,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,771
Lifetime Value Added
+$133k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
AssocCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$7,940
Earnings (5yr)
$53,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,008
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Homeland Security
AssocCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$20,756
Earnings (5yr)
$27,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,037
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,990
Earnings (5yr)
$44,031
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$36,282
Earnings (5yr)
$60,064
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,988
Earnings (5yr)
$74,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$25,852
Earnings (5yr)
$73,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
BachCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$26,841
Earnings (5yr)
$94,292
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,888
Earnings (5yr)
$69,844
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,989
Earnings (5yr)
$40,154
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$23,688
Earnings (5yr)
$81,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$43,268
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$30,321
Earnings (5yr)
$53,057
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$24,942
Earnings (5yr)
$75,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$31,334
Earnings (5yr)
$55,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$35,082
Earnings (5yr)
$42,229
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$14,947
Earnings (5yr)
$64,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$22,282
Earnings (5yr)
$83,481
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$31,530
Earnings (5yr)
$62,057
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$26,612
Earnings (2yr)
$54,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Military Science and Operational Studies
BachCIP: 2805
Median Debt
$18,188
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$24,306
Earnings (5yr)
$67,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$30,518
Earnings (5yr)
$60,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,728
Earnings (5yr)
$87,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,550
Earnings (5yr)
$50,168
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$30,640
Earnings (5yr)
$63,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$16,093
Earnings (5yr)
$82,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
$32,062
Earnings (5yr)
$52,779
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,693
Earnings (5yr)
$55,096
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$32,927
Earnings (5yr)
$86,537
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$37,330
Earnings (5yr)
$89,766
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
MastCIP: 1110
Median Debt
$41,147
Earnings (5yr)
$116,618
Lifetime Value Added
+$565k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$37,330
Earnings (5yr)
$78,388
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$38,967
Earnings (5yr)
$55,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,831
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$35,798
Earnings (5yr)
$65,913
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$40,538
Earnings (5yr)
$68,620
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$38,384
Earnings (5yr)
$91,488
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$33,731
Earnings (5yr)
$105,395
Lifetime Value Added
+$469k
International/Global Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$29,812
Earnings (5yr)
$101,501
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$31,709
Earnings (5yr)
$109,839
Lifetime Value Added
+$507k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$31,665
Earnings (5yr)
$80,040
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$42,053
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$37,101
Earnings (5yr)
$82,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$37,184
Earnings (5yr)
$52,145
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$43,726
Earnings (5yr)
$83,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$46,258
Earnings (5yr)
$77,390
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,311
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$35,590
Earnings (5yr)
$57,598
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$59,160
Earnings (5yr)
$60,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
International/Global Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$25,298
Earnings (5yr)
$96,648
Lifetime Value Added
+$480k
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.