College ROI

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Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR 9,110 Undergrads 54.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,082
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,366
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,631
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,366
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,631
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+33%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$42,617
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate54.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.3
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 Recipients41.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time60.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.3%
SAT Avg
1,090
SAT Reading
25th: 49055075th: 570
SAT Math
25th: 48056575th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 182375th: 24

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
+$508k
+$42k
+$24k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$464k
-$3k
-$20k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$418k
-$49k
-$66k

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
45
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-46%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-73%
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 Return-34%

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 Return-59%
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: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$13,864
Earnings (4yr)
$53,002
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,246
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Data Processing
AssocCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,859
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,725
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$76,671
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,925
Earnings (4yr)
$67,944
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,128
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
$17,949
Earnings (4yr)
$63,340
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,579
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,441
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$20,556
Earnings (4yr)
$47,023
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,165
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,270
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,419
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$44,327
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Median Debt
$18,327
Earnings (4yr)
$60,039
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
$19,736
Earnings (4yr)
$79,309
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$46,293
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Data Processing
BachCIP: 1103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,901
Natl Median: $75,978
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,897
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,691
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$304k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,678
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,366
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
$20,790
Earnings (4yr)
$68,408
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,758
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
$19,697
Earnings (4yr)
$46,015
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,309
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,242
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,792
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
$23,795
Earnings (4yr)
$43,733
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$26,620
Earnings (4yr)
$56,685
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,340
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,665
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$14,716
Earnings (4yr)
$61,397
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,078
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,220
Earnings (4yr)
$44,872
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,196
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,961
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
$21,222
Earnings (4yr)
$88,611
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,449
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,889
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,833
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$18,715
Earnings (4yr)
$41,947
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$44,780
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,248
Natl Median: $90,332
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,501
Earnings (4yr)
$73,394
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,050
Earnings (4yr)
$67,129
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,365
Earnings (4yr)
$54,091
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,879
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,712
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,019
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Median Debt
$34,737
Earnings (4yr)
$46,985
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$259k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,034
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,713
Earnings (4yr)
$76,032
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
$15,600
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$146,230
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$619k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,813
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,700
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,012
Earnings (4yr)
$63,551
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$27,700
Earnings (4yr)
$52,385
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,232
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
$15,416
Earnings (4yr)
$53,287
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,593
Earnings (4yr)
$68,970
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,096
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,710
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,702
Natl Median: $61,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $87,076
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$65,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,724
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k

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.