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Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 9,916 Undergrads 62.7% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,470
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,041
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,874
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,041
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,874
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
91.0%
SAT Avg
1,099
SAT Reading
25th: 49056575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 47055075th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 212375th: 27
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
+$484k
+$88k
+$25
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$427k
+$30k
-$58k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$389k
-$7k
-$95k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
64
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-100%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-100%
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-81%
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-72%
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
$28,125
Earnings (5yr)
$76,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,745
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$27,982
Earnings (5yr)
$42,994
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,750
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$56,684
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,717
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,614
Lifetime Value Added
+$238k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$102,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$307k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,720
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,215
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$24,877
Earnings (5yr)
$56,137
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,001
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,632
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$98,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,271
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,580
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,717
Lifetime Value Added
-$217k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$61,764
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,525
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$28,937
Earnings (5yr)
$53,003
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$26,703
Earnings (5yr)
$67,510
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,935
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$59,452
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$38,638
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$93,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$87,602
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,554
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,234
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$28,125
Earnings (5yr)
$51,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,725
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$28,644
Earnings (5yr)
$46,528
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
BachCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,601
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)
BachCIP: 2200
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,066
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,731
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,609
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,821
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,016
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,505
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,968
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$26,324
Earnings (5yr)
$50,735
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$37,068
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$26,745
Earnings (5yr)
$43,998
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Social Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4599
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$61,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$942
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,078
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,739
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5219
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (5yr)
$50,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,502
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,356
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,987
Earnings (5yr)
$49,750
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$113,288
Earnings (5yr)
$127,501
Lifetime Value Added
+$645k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$33,949
Earnings (5yr)
$86,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$58,342
Earnings (5yr)
$63,239
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$28,703
Earnings (5yr)
$58,580
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,218
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,433
Earnings (5yr)
$71,900
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$16,080
Earnings (5yr)
$65,031
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$40,035
Earnings (5yr)
$77,703
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$65,370
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$35,484
Earnings (5yr)
$75,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$33,186
Earnings (5yr)
$107,405
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$35,575
Earnings (5yr)
$71,977
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$50,353
Earnings (5yr)
$61,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$28,898
Earnings (5yr)
$67,581
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,159
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Human Resources Management and Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$106,174
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$40,464
Earnings (5yr)
$83,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$106,465
Earnings (5yr)
$80,213
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
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.