College ROI

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Ashland University

Ashland, OH 2,199 Undergrads 59.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$43,434
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,988
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,855
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,988
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,855
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$52,928
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate59.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age29.6
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 Recipients37.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
76.4%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: 50558075th: 610
SAT Math
25th: 53057075th: 598
ACT Composite
25th: 202375th: 25

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
+$535k
+$68k
+$50k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$455k
-$11k
-$29k
Full Cost$43k/yr
+$378k
-$89k
-$106k

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
38
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-37%
Full Cost$43k/yr
Never
-68%
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-32%

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-69%
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.

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,243
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,690
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,065
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$22,831
Earnings (4yr)
$62,624
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$68,823
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,115
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,386
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,359
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
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)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,929
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,734
Earnings (4yr)
$44,543
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$68,708
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
Non-Professional Legal Studies
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,883
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,199
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
$26,048
Earnings (4yr)
$57,165
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$26,889
Earnings (4yr)
$47,671
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,296
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,929
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,222
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,805
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$47,094
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
$26,699
Earnings (4yr)
$43,052
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,744
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$42,544
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,115
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,090
Earnings (4yr)
$90,642
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Median Debt
$43,620
Earnings (4yr)
$46,529
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
Median Debt
$18,514
Earnings (4yr)
$63,212
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Median Debt
$22,323
Earnings (4yr)
$65,364
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,522
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,400
Earnings (4yr)
$62,347
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
$18,512
Earnings (4yr)
$64,231
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$53,598
Earnings (4yr)
$47,883
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$253k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,765
Natl Median: $62,426
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$24,549
Natl Median: $60,047
Lifetime Value Added
-$579k
Education, Other
DegCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,262
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,791
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,406
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,347
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.