College ROI

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Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR 5,388 Undergrads 52.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$22,808
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,970
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,759
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,970
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$49,759
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$41,766
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate52.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.0
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 Recipients49.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS65.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
95.9%
SAT Avg
1,049
SAT Reading
25th: 450-75th: 550
SAT Math
25th: 430-75th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 17-75th: 23

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
+$452k
-$15k
-$33k
Median Cost$13k/yr
+$405k
-$62k
-$79k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$369k
-$97k
-$115k

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
Never
-∞
Median Cost$13k/yr
Never
-170%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-140%
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-147%

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-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, 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
$21,660
Earnings (4yr)
$52,624
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,492
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,100
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
$13,237
Earnings (4yr)
$39,348
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,571
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Area Studies
AssocCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,846
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,560
Earnings (4yr)
$31,711
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Median Debt
-
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
$24,710
Earnings (4yr)
$48,859
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$29,240
Natl Median: $37,073
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,236
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,086
Earnings (4yr)
$28,231
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,571
Natl Median: $39,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,170
Earnings (4yr)
$44,342
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,902
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician
AssocCIP: 1514
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$85,543
Natl Median: $100,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Median Debt
$22,365
Earnings (4yr)
$60,353
Natl Median: $62,755
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,800
Earnings (4yr)
$74,178
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$250k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,122
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
+$35k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,759
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,493
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$16,780
Earnings (4yr)
$49,840
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Median Debt
$20,940
Earnings (4yr)
$56,643
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,515
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,385
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$19,975
Earnings (4yr)
$70,588
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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
$25,611
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$28,950
Earnings (4yr)
$32,960
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,951
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$29,056
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
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
-$137k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,065
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$22,372
Earnings (4yr)
$53,142
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$43,436
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$39,173
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
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 (5yr)
$45,280
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Median Debt
$21,953
Earnings (4yr)
$85,509
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
$23,715
Earnings (4yr)
$46,018
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,236
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$255k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,726
Earnings (4yr)
$49,034
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
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
$23,395
Earnings (4yr)
$38,611
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Median Debt
$17,650
Earnings (4yr)
$84,719
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,946
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$42,344
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
$23,090
Earnings (4yr)
$43,978
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
$23,121
Earnings (4yr)
$46,907
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,868
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
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
-$240k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,047
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Median Debt
$26,480
Earnings (4yr)
$66,101
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$19,230
Earnings (4yr)
$49,760
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
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 (5yr)
$59,668
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
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
-$228k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,551
Earnings (4yr)
$51,021
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,368
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$29,650
Earnings (4yr)
$41,954
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$260k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$101,156
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,426
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.