College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies

Fayette, MO 1,807 Undergrads 64.9% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$20,195
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,774
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,991
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,774
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,991
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate64.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients46.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time53.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
87.1%
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
+$429k
+$33k
-$55k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$376k
-$21k
-$108k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$356k
-$40k
-$128k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-204%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-176%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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-206%

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-95%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$47,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$51,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$18,111
Earnings (5yr)
$54,864
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,084
Earnings (5yr)
$40,180
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,639
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (2yr)
$28,598
Lifetime Value Added
-$258k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,062
Earnings (5yr)
$41,040
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,917
Earnings (5yr)
$79,090
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$20,130
Earnings (2yr)
$28,816
Lifetime Value Added
-$256k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,263
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$251k

Master's Degrees

Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$34,980
Earnings (5yr)
$50,305
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.