College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, CT 7,822 Undergrads 60.5% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$24,870
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,857
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,245
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,857
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,245
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$58,562
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate60.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients37.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
73.3%
SAT Avg
1,080
SAT Reading
25th: 49054575th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 47052075th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: -2375th: -

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
+$593k
+$126k
+$108k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$532k
+$65k
+$48k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$503k
+$36k
+$19k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
32
Median Cost$17k/yr
43
79%
Full Cost$25k/yr
53
21%
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 Return137%

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-12%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,605
Earnings (4yr)
$74,408
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$18,771
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$356k
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$60,713
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$58,193
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,392
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,366
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,195
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$18,625
Earnings (4yr)
$86,238
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (4yr)
$71,243
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,230
Natl Median: $85,063
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Median Debt
$20,239
Earnings (4yr)
$93,908
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,950
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,214
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,384
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,304
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,295
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$78,910
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,387
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,274
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,037
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,238
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$18,363
Earnings (5yr)
$83,277
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$26,534
Earnings (4yr)
$56,990
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$87,396
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,290
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,859
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
$29,250
Earnings (4yr)
$90,472
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Median Debt
$23,091
Earnings (4yr)
$94,462
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$256k
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
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,678
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,227
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
$20,158
Earnings (4yr)
$62,580
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$92,216
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,309
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,463
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,562
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,220
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,607
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,760
Earnings (4yr)
$103,777
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$105,899
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Median Debt
$53,260
Earnings (4yr)
$61,035
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$102,450
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$113,946
Natl Median: $112,166
Lifetime Value Added
+$331k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,636
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,583
Earnings (4yr)
$53,985
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,217
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$892
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,787
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
MastCIP: 1500
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $111,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,930
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
International/Globalization Studies
MastCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,219
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$76,683
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,969
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$46,990
Earnings (4yr)
$209,970
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1158k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,129
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,530
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,429
Earnings (4yr)
$68,122
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,363
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,503
Earnings (4yr)
$105,559
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,507
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,140
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,178
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$108,092
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$126k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,758
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DegCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,018
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,802
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,844
Natl Median: $59,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,231
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.