College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA 21,996 Undergrads 87.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$36,515
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,832
After Aid
Median Earnings
$93,587
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,832
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$93,587
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$96,304
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate87.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)20.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
31.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$784k
+$314k
+$298k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$716k
+$246k
+$230k
Full Cost$37k/yr
+$653k
+$183k
+$166k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
30
339%
Full Cost$37k/yr
35
127%
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 Return329%

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 Return37%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,333
Earnings (4yr)
$107,498
Natl Median: $98,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
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Median Debt
$14,167
Earnings (4yr)
$88,396
Natl Median: $66,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
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Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,603
Natl Median: $84,624
Lifetime Value Added
+$236k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,080
Natl Median: $71,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,965
Natl Median: $54,152
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,412
Natl Median: $53,676
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
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Animal Sciences
BachCIP: 0109
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,805
Natl Median: $49,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
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Median Debt
$21,627
Earnings (4yr)
$92,767
Natl Median: $89,406
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
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Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,613
Natl Median: $66,914
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,097
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,576
Earnings (4yr)
$69,854
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$109,232
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$110,902
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,882
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
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Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$80,820
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,667
Earnings (4yr)
$101,072
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$301k
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Median Debt
$14,091
Earnings (4yr)
$75,223
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
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Median Debt
$17,178
Earnings (4yr)
$148,950
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$662k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$154,784
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$706k
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Median Debt
$18,399
Earnings (4yr)
$118,331
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$432k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,697
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
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Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$98,927
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
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Median Debt
$20,315
Earnings (4yr)
$125,240
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$484k
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Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,833
Earnings (4yr)
$63,413
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
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Median Debt
$16,109
Earnings (4yr)
$102,702
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$313k
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Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
$15,083
Earnings (4yr)
$68,965
Natl Median: $56,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,721
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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Median Debt
$12,833
Earnings (4yr)
$75,466
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
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Forestry
BachCIP: 0305
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,419
Natl Median: $58,784
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,227
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,432
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,833
Earnings (4yr)
$66,518
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
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Median Debt
$18,999
Earnings (4yr)
$112,797
Natl Median: $98,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$390k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,195
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
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Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$70,829
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
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Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,795
Natl Median: $66,387
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
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Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$68,171
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,502
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
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Marine Sciences
BachCIP: 3032
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,667
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$100,599
Natl Median: $91,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,851
Earnings (4yr)
$83,187
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
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Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$106,750
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$344k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,852
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$198k
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Median Debt
$14,667
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 (2yr)
$59,124
Natl Median: $54,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
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Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$17,644
Earnings (4yr)
$68,930
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (4yr)
$75,181
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,592
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$96,805
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Plant Sciences
BachCIP: 0111
Median Debt
$19,333
Earnings (4yr)
$82,487
Natl Median: $56,567
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
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Median Debt
$14,013
Earnings (4yr)
$81,843
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,466
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,360
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (4yr)
$69,883
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
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Soil Sciences
BachCIP: 0112
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$12,749
Earnings (4yr)
$64,579
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
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Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$15,904
Earnings (4yr)
$101,353
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
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Median Debt
$15,334
Earnings (4yr)
$55,543
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,660
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$134,105
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$503k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,720
Natl Median: $122,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$491k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,486
Natl Median: $61,941
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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Animal Sciences
MastCIP: 0109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,394
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,356
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$80,022
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
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Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$113,572
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,148
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,909
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
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Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,004
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$235,241
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$1361k
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Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,570
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$158,977
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$717k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$114,953
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$317k
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Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,611
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$209k
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Fire Protection
MastCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$97,071
Natl Median: $86,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
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Forestry
MastCIP: 0305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $119,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$131,448
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$480k
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Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$127,908
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$449k
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Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,419
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$120,295
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
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Median Debt
$13,731
Earnings (4yr)
$104,117
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
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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.