College ROI

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California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA 28,350 Undergrads 72.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$22,945
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$9,338
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,511
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$9,338
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,511
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$64,876
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate72.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.2
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 Recipients49.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time80.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
94.0%
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)
⚠️ 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
+$571k
+$105k
+$87k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$538k
+$71k
+$53k
Full Cost$23k/yr
+$489k
+$22k
+$5k

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
33
∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
40
159%
Full Cost$23k/yr
60
5%
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 Return109%

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-18%
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.

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$48,367
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,885
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$14,900
Earnings (4yr)
$61,775
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Median Debt
$13,490
Earnings (4yr)
$67,636
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,263
Earnings (4yr)
$74,430
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$93,973
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,404
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$63,013
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,394
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$358k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,004
Earnings (4yr)
$92,519
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Median Debt
$14,514
Earnings (4yr)
$114,594
Natl Median: $97,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$436k
Median Debt
$13,138
Earnings (4yr)
$62,583
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,871
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
$16,396
Earnings (4yr)
$47,676
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$15,493
Earnings (4yr)
$70,290
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$103,512
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,680
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,188
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$55,830
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
$15,568
Earnings (4yr)
$42,392
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
$15,173
Earnings (4yr)
$41,969
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Median Debt
$15,974
Earnings (4yr)
$75,234
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,418
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Gerontology
BachCIP: 3011
Median Debt
$19,831
Earnings (4yr)
$60,868
Natl Median: $54,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Median Debt
$14,979
Earnings (4yr)
$67,182
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,471
Earnings (4yr)
$55,797
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
$15,625
Earnings (4yr)
$49,847
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,410
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,145
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,637
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$16,716
Earnings (4yr)
$59,162
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$16,532
Earnings (4yr)
$93,878
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,914
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$374
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,241
Earnings (4yr)
$42,774
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,795
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
$19,181
Earnings (4yr)
$59,041
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$14,753
Earnings (4yr)
$65,115
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,133
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
$15,850
Earnings (4yr)
$60,278
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,237
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (4yr)
$129,960
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$552k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,028
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$16,097
Earnings (4yr)
$56,363
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,280
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,975
Earnings (4yr)
$56,886
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,146
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,142
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,062
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k

Master's Degrees

Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,785
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Median Debt
$33,324
Earnings (4yr)
$116,033
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,193
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
$33,556
Earnings (4yr)
$91,632
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
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
$38,810
Earnings (4yr)
$102,444
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$244k
Median Debt
$19,137
Earnings (4yr)
$70,641
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$353k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$33,556
Earnings (4yr)
$53,415
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,337
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$323k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$78,343
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,313
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)
$72,365
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,962
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
$22,103
Earnings (4yr)
$108,293
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$33,556
Earnings (4yr)
$84,100
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,203
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,912
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,021
Earnings (4yr)
$68,782
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$64,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,270
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$78,936
Earnings (4yr)
$101,467
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k

Other Programs

Education, General
DegCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,645
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.