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Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 19,304 Undergrads 74.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$22,654
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,487
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,836
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,487
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,836
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate74.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
88.6%
SAT Avg
1,187
SAT Reading
25th: 56061075th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 54060575th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 212775th: 27
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
+$452k
+$56k
-$32k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$393k
-$4k
-$92k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$371k
-$26k
-$114k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-154%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-140%
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-146%
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-84%
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
Geography and Cartography
CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$17,558
Earnings (5yr)
$55,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,590
Earnings (5yr)
$78,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,048
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,531
Earnings (5yr)
$40,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$22,700
Earnings (5yr)
$44,820
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$23,487
Earnings (5yr)
$46,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,233
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$60,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,894
Earnings (5yr)
$61,601
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$58,480
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$102,688
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$76,819
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,066
Earnings (5yr)
$50,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$21,435
Earnings (5yr)
$54,970
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$22,995
Earnings (5yr)
$50,317
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$28,084
Lifetime Value Added
-$284k
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
BachCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1517
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,499
Earnings (5yr)
$37,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$88,101
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,267
Earnings (5yr)
$34,209
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
Food Science and Technology
BachCIP: 0110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (5yr)
$67,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$22,291
Earnings (5yr)
$52,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,228
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,354
Earnings (5yr)
$54,550
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,254
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$21,945
Earnings (5yr)
$57,957
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$19,641
Earnings (5yr)
$44,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (5yr)
$80,272
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$26,691
Earnings (5yr)
$79,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (2yr)
$26,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$20,222
Earnings (5yr)
$48,078
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$342k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$20,667
Earnings (5yr)
$81,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,864
Earnings (5yr)
$59,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,271
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$41,388
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$39,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$22,096
Earnings (5yr)
$61,858
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$19,229
Earnings (5yr)
$47,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,294
Earnings (5yr)
$42,768
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,531
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$18,836
Earnings (5yr)
$55,221
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,064
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,827
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$48,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,120
Earnings (5yr)
$44,662
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$24,096
Earnings (5yr)
$49,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,729
Earnings (5yr)
$46,827
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$17,978
Earnings (5yr)
$88,331
Lifetime Value Added
+$309k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,336
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,533
Earnings (5yr)
$78,484
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$39,727
Earnings (5yr)
$60,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$33,459
Earnings (5yr)
$63,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$19,580
Earnings (5yr)
$59,944
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,066
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,738
Earnings (5yr)
$55,820
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$23,172
Earnings (5yr)
$65,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$19,513
Earnings (5yr)
$51,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$27,879
Earnings (5yr)
$51,811
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Graduate Certificates
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Professional Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
ProfCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,254
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Educational Administration and Supervision
ProfCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,350
Earnings (5yr)
$82,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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.