College ROI

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American Public University System

Charles Town, WV 40,074 Undergrads 26.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,768
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,597
After Aid
Median Earnings
$70,107
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,597
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$70,107
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+58%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$44,409
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate26.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age32.1
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time9.1%
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
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$615k
+$148k
+$130k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$580k
+$113k
+$96k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$547k
+$80k
+$63k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
35
277%
Full Cost$19k/yr
41
93%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return275%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return34%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,880
Earnings (4yr)
$63,677
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,556
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$8,881
Earnings (4yr)
$78,217
Natl Median: $52,615
Lifetime Value Added
+$367k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,869
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
CertCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $40,962
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Median Debt
$7,125
Earnings (4yr)
$33,911
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,088
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,024
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $51,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,531
Natl Median: $46,762
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,424
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$17,086
Earnings (4yr)
$47,537
Natl Median: $47,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$22,707
Earnings (4yr)
$65,318
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$61,313
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Median Debt
$13,011
Earnings (4yr)
$42,077
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,003
Earnings (4yr)
$55,726
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Data Processing
AssocCIP: 1103
Median Debt
$18,018
Earnings (4yr)
$63,673
Natl Median: $51,859
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,650
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,500
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,940
Earnings (4yr)
$51,579
Natl Median: $48,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,008
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Homeland Security
AssocCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,213
Natl Median: $58,829
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,756
Earnings (4yr)
$38,583
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,037
Natl Median: $50,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$39,259
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,895
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,713
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
AssocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,990
Earnings (4yr)
$39,409
Natl Median: $43,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Real Estate
AssocCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,534
Natl Median: $40,327
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$36,282
Earnings (4yr)
$62,358
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,845
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
$22,988
Earnings (4yr)
$75,722
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Median Debt
$25,852
Earnings (4yr)
$80,417
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Median Debt
$26,841
Earnings (4yr)
$86,275
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Median Debt
$20,888
Earnings (4yr)
$69,546
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,989
Earnings (4yr)
$43,415
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,830
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$23,688
Earnings (4yr)
$87,428
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Median Debt
$43,268
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Natl Median: $75,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$30,321
Earnings (4yr)
$59,793
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$24,942
Earnings (4yr)
$77,122
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Median Debt
$31,334
Earnings (4yr)
$46,000
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$35,082
Earnings (4yr)
$47,294
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,947
Earnings (4yr)
$65,510
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$22,282
Earnings (4yr)
$86,599
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,734
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$31,530
Earnings (4yr)
$63,469
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
$26,612
Earnings (4yr)
$89,871
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$247k
Median Debt
$18,188
Earnings (4yr)
$103,706
Natl Median: $101,117
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Median Debt
$24,306
Earnings (4yr)
$57,618
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$30,518
Earnings (4yr)
$61,532
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,098
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Median Debt
$21,728
Earnings (4yr)
$81,056
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,550
Earnings (4yr)
$54,707
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$30,640
Earnings (4yr)
$59,240
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$16,093
Earnings (4yr)
$94,768
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,336
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$32,062
Earnings (4yr)
$57,237
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,693
Earnings (4yr)
$54,432
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,134
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$32,927
Earnings (4yr)
$82,725
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
$37,330
Earnings (4yr)
$91,167
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$41,147
Earnings (4yr)
$111,755
Natl Median: $121,855
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Median Debt
$37,330
Earnings (4yr)
$89,135
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$38,967
Earnings (4yr)
$57,967
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,831
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$40,538
Earnings (4yr)
$63,247
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$38,384
Earnings (4yr)
$96,527
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,731
Earnings (4yr)
$100,647
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$29,812
Earnings (4yr)
$108,940
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
Median Debt
$44,003
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,709
Earnings (4yr)
$99,729
Natl Median: $117,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$220k
Median Debt
$31,665
Earnings (4yr)
$77,714
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Non-Professional Legal Studies
MastCIP: 2200
Median Debt
$42,053
Earnings (4yr)
$67,802
Natl Median: $65,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Median Debt
$37,101
Earnings (4yr)
$74,802
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$37,184
Earnings (4yr)
$66,047
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
$43,726
Earnings (4yr)
$85,238
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$46,258
Earnings (4yr)
$79,601
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$35,798
Earnings (4yr)
$70,509
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,370
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$35,590
Earnings (4yr)
$87,252
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,517
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,030
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Gr-CertCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,516
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$59,160
Earnings (4yr)
$61,512
Natl Median: $64,756
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Homeland Security
Gr-CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,417
Natl Median: $84,606
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,274
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
Gr-CertCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$25,298
Earnings (4yr)
$95,322
Natl Median: $91,589
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Gr-CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.