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Carolina University
Winston-Salem, NC 460 Undergrads 38.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$32,680
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,828
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,812
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,828
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$52,812
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate38.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients41.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS52.2%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
39.5%
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
+$477k
+$10k
-$7k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$402k
-$65k
-$82k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$359k
-$107k
-$125k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
Never
-110%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-106%
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 Return-96%
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-80%
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
Certificates
Bible/Biblical Studies
CertCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,192
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Bible/Biblical Studies
AssocCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
AssocCIP: 3907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religion/Religious Studies
AssocCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,769
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
AssocCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $40,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
American Sign Language
BachCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bible/Biblical Studies
BachCIP: 3902
Median Debt
$21,029
Earnings (4yr)
$56,995
Natl Median: $44,533
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
BachCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,433
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Religious Education
BachCIP: 3904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Natl Median: $43,633
Lifetime Value Added
-$366k
Religious Music and Worship
BachCIP: 3905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,456
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
BachCIP: 3906
Median Debt
$19,691
Earnings (4yr)
$38,859
Natl Median: $44,535
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Master's Degrees
American Sign Language
MastCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,769
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bible/Biblical Studies
MastCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Theological and Ministerial Studies
MastCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,238
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Doctoral Degrees
Bible/Biblical Studies
DocCIP: 3902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,812
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
DocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$56,798
Earnings (4yr)
$115,630
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Theological and Ministerial Studies
DocCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,982
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Theological and Ministerial Studies
ProfCIP: 3906
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,395
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.