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Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH 12,255 Undergrads 64.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$29,238
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,918
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,896
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,918
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$47,896
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
80.6%
SAT Avg
1,118
SAT Reading
25th: 51056075th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 51055575th: 610
ACT Composite
25th: 202375th: 26
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
+$420k
+$24k
-$64k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$345k
-$52k
-$139k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$315k
-$81k
-$169k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-185%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-161%
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-187%
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-100%
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
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$19,309
Earnings (5yr)
$53,150
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,900
Earnings (5yr)
$42,404
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,211
Earnings (5yr)
$74,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,717
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,161
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,738
Earnings (5yr)
$78,492
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$23,111
Earnings (5yr)
$55,822
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$60,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$23,251
Earnings (5yr)
$51,629
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
BachCIP: 0999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,001
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$95,512
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$26,637
Earnings (5yr)
$84,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,939
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Construction Engineering
BachCIP: 1433
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,467
Lifetime Value Added
+$197k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,569
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,779
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$25,856
Earnings (5yr)
$52,799
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$31,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$269k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (5yr)
$67,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,137
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 1599
Median Debt
$17,321
Earnings (5yr)
$77,410
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$35,048
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Environmental Design
BachCIP: 0404
Median Debt
$25,072
Earnings (5yr)
$58,480
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$76,229
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$39,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$52,198
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
$26,899
Earnings (5yr)
$46,088
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$26,338
Earnings (5yr)
$48,089
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$25,498
Earnings (5yr)
$62,614
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,589
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$25,635
Earnings (5yr)
$43,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Interior Architecture
BachCIP: 0405
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$29,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$74,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,621
Earnings (5yr)
$61,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,132
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,873
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$25,834
Earnings (5yr)
$51,456
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,968
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$23,760
Earnings (5yr)
$59,813
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,739
Earnings (5yr)
$43,719
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$22,519
Earnings (5yr)
$59,879
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,334
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,453
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5219
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,761
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$26,994
Earnings (5yr)
$46,039
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$26,869
Earnings (5yr)
$38,860
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Special Education and Teaching
PB-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,713
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
PB-CertCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$16,850
Earnings (5yr)
$52,728
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,110
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$113,316
Lifetime Value Added
+$515k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$32,064
Earnings (5yr)
$65,105
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,801
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$23,159
Earnings (5yr)
$62,899
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$32,725
Earnings (5yr)
$75,554
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 1999
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
MastCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$28,006
Earnings (5yr)
$58,536
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,056
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$74,196
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$32,465
Earnings (5yr)
$44,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$30,631
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$35,024
Earnings (5yr)
$56,791
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,376
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,164
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,869
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
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.