College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA 19,562 Undergrads 69.0% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$17,767
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$2,385
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,449
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$2,385
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$62,449
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$62,555
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate69.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.0
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients68.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.3%
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
+$548k
+$78k
+$62k
Median Cost$2k/yr
+$540k
+$70k
+$53k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$485k
+$14k
-$2k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$2k/yr
38
623%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-3%
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 Return97%

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-17%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,391
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,508
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,360
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
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Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,441
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
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Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,908
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
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Median Debt
$13,528
Earnings (4yr)
$62,716
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,747
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
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Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$14,406
Earnings (4yr)
$94,760
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
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Median Debt
$9,623
Earnings (4yr)
$46,060
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
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Median Debt
$15,713
Earnings (4yr)
$53,857
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
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Median Debt
$10,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,022
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$12,875
Earnings (4yr)
$87,525
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
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Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,695
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$102
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,705
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,097
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,998
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
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Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,014
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$322k
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Median Debt
$17,982
Earnings (4yr)
$52,259
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,970
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,783
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
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Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,814
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,873
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$12,734
Earnings (4yr)
$55,413
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
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Median Debt
$11,004
Earnings (4yr)
$86,970
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,904
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,677
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
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Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
$93,028
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,366
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
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Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,016
Earnings (4yr)
$39,120
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
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Natural Sciences
BachCIP: 3018
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,935
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,797
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
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Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,127
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
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Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,063
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$15,248
Earnings (4yr)
$56,466
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,867
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$116,182
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
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Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$57,695
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
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Median Debt
$14,400
Earnings (4yr)
$51,414
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$35,591
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
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Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$14,918
Earnings (4yr)
$59,545
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,249
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$12,531
Earnings (4yr)
$44,930
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,444
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
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Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$40,747
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,858
Earnings (4yr)
$126,611
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$468k
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Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$120,651
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$417k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,235
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
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Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$101,094
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
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Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$104,192
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$310k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,028
Earnings (4yr)
$63,878
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,668
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,058
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$394k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,904
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,046
Earnings (4yr)
$90,351
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
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History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$100,617
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,455
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
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Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,696
Earnings (4yr)
$72,670
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
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Median Debt
$27,982
Earnings (4yr)
$137,184
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$560k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,683
Natl Median: $82,399
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
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Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,024
Earnings (4yr)
$78,135
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
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Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,412
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,208
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
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Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,659
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
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.