College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA 12,538 Undergrads 69.1% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$23,191
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,615
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,922
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$8,615
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$58,922
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate69.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients62.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time76.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
93.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$527k
+$60k
+$43k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$496k
+$29k
+$12k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$444k
-$23k
-$41k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
Median Cost$9k/yr
53
38%
Full Cost$23k/yr
Never
-49%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return11%

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-45%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,281
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$18,005
Earnings (4yr)
$54,405
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$14,728
Earnings (4yr)
$63,662
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
BachCIP: 5299
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$75,412
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$19,579
Earnings (4yr)
$109,642
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$401k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,157
Earnings (4yr)
$57,478
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$48
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,686
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$74,788
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$16,589
Earnings (4yr)
$59,603
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$12,363
Earnings (4yr)
$57,727
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,430
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$13,329
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,081
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
BachCIP: 2399
Median Debt
$12,879
Earnings (4yr)
$57,245
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,469
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,094
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,549
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$11,490
Earnings (5yr)
$56,749
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,677
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $53,579
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,164
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$12,343
Earnings (4yr)
$68,900
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
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
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$11,093
Earnings (4yr)
$59,558
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,742
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Psychology, Other
BachCIP: 4299
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$52,965
Natl Median: $50,748
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$68,008
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$13,375
Earnings (5yr)
$56,022
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$12,969
Earnings (4yr)
$36,326
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$118,588
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$469k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,317
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,939
Earnings (4yr)
$55,100
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,483
Earnings (4yr)
$51,185
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$11,125
Earnings (4yr)
$44,654
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k

Master's Degrees

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
MastCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,661
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$97,035
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,356
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$77,851
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,100
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$356k
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
MastCIP: 2399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$65,500
Earnings (4yr)
$89,284
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$42,926
Earnings (4yr)
$68,126
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,558
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$39,618
Earnings (4yr)
$95,683
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$40,750
Earnings (4yr)
$89,849
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$151,224
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$669k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$39,187
Earnings (4yr)
$83,346
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$38,800
Earnings (4yr)
$84,628
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,710
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,089
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,789
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Educational Administration and Supervision
DegCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DegCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,259
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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.