College ROI

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Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR 5,388 Undergrads 53.8% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$22,295
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,332
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,980
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,332
Peer Midpoint: $17,726
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$49,980
Peer Midpoint: $36,184
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$46,008
Peer Midpoint: $36,543
Graduation Rate53.8%
Peer Midpoint: 69.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients53.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.9%
SAT Avg
1,049
SAT Reading
25th: 45051075th: 550
SAT Math
25th: 43049075th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 172075th: 23

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 1 Year 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$568k
+$164k
+$82k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$558k
+$154k
+$71k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$548k
+$143k
+$61k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
23
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
25
679%
Full Cost$22k/yr
28
296%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return669%

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 Return90%

Program ROI Analysis

These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →

Certificates

Median Debt
$22,420
Earnings (4yr)
$52,624
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
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Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
$10,190
Earnings (4yr)
$39,348
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,571
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
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Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,711
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
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Median Debt
$12,700
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,246
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $27,014
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,859
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,497
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,260
Earnings (4yr)
$28,231
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$231k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,095
Earnings (4yr)
$44,342
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
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Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1514
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,543
Natl Median: $100,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,353
Natl Median: $62,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,828
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
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Median Debt
$23,830
Earnings (4yr)
$74,178
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,122
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,759
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
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Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,493
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$974
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,840
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
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Median Debt
$17,180
Earnings (4yr)
$56,643
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,515
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,385
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
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Median Debt
$17,890
Earnings (4yr)
$70,588
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$32,960
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,951
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
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Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$15,552
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$367k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,985
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,065
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,142
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,436
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
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International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,173
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,670
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,509
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
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Median Debt
$22,270
Earnings (4yr)
$46,018
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,034
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$38,611
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
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Median Debt
$19,590
Earnings (4yr)
$84,719
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,946
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,344
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
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Median Debt
$20,835
Earnings (4yr)
$43,978
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
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Median Debt
$17,525
Earnings (4yr)
$46,907
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$44,868
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,895
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,039
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
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Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,047
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,101
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,760
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
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 (2yr)
$35,060
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$363k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,255
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,890
Earnings (4yr)
$51,021
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$219k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,368
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,954
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k
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Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,156
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
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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.