College ROI

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Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Fayette, MO 1,040 Undergrads 56.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$46,657
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,697
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,186
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,697
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,186
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$53,620
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate56.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)27.8
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 Recipients42.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
56.9%
SAT Avg
1,048
SAT Reading
25th: 44046575th: 490
SAT Math
25th: 52053075th: 555
ACT Composite
25th: 172075th: 23

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
+$498k
+$28k
+$12k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$420k
-$50k
-$66k
Full Cost$47k/yr
+$330k
-$140k
-$156k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
51
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-85%
Full Cost$47k/yr
Never
-93%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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-78%

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-82%

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 →

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$21,149
Earnings (4yr)
$52,836
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,533
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$24,784
Earnings (4yr)
$46,344
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$16,466
Earnings (4yr)
$51,274
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,648
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (4yr)
$45,805
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$304k
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$16,957
Earnings (4yr)
$43,653
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$16,209
Earnings (4yr)
$39,671
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$20,834
Earnings (4yr)
$51,637
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$19,502
Earnings (4yr)
$42,219
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$85,140
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,816
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$282k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,452
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$29,374
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k

Master's Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$46,167
Earnings (4yr)
$57,976
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
$32,225
Earnings (4yr)
$45,220
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$295k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,410
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138

Earnings shared by 2 Central Methodist University-College campuses, which report as one program.

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,434
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$336k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
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.