College ROI

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Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA 7,833 Undergrads 61.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$28,816
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,476
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,444
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,476
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$63,444
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,580
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate61.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.4
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 Recipients34.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
90.6%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$563k
+$96k
+$79k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$497k
+$30k
+$12k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$459k
-$7k
-$25k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
55
18%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-24%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return52%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-39%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
$19,972
Earnings (4yr)
$60,506
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$185k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,442
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,997
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,263
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,089
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Median Debt
$17,249
Earnings (4yr)
$65,815
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,673
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,166
Earnings (4yr)
$56,154
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,036
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,687
Earnings (4yr)
$75,905
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Median Debt
$21,065
Earnings (4yr)
$56,862
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
$20,137
Earnings (4yr)
$72,838
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,435
Earnings (4yr)
$95,368
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Median Debt
$24,120
Earnings (4yr)
$97,651
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,761
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,668
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$33,800
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$14,744
Earnings (4yr)
$88,799
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$111,285
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,557
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,101
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,118
Earnings (4yr)
$45,152
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,251
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,081
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,987
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$45,990
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,858
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Median Debt
$17,523
Earnings (4yr)
$54,318
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,170
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,411
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Median Debt
$22,190
Earnings (4yr)
$84,871
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,177
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,008
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$21,137
Earnings (4yr)
$50,776
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
$20,306
Earnings (4yr)
$56,735
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Median Debt
$22,883
Earnings (4yr)
$43,480
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,540
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,299
Natl Median: $62,172
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$14,385
Earnings (4yr)
$64,361
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,834
Earnings (4yr)
$54,530
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$20,326
Earnings (4yr)
$62,435
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,538
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
$25,333
Earnings (4yr)
$97,869
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$50,318
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
$20,036
Earnings (4yr)
$41,971
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,845
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,584
Earnings (4yr)
$58,680
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$21,950
Earnings (4yr)
$63,608
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,230
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,979
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Median Debt
$20,205
Earnings (4yr)
$59,659
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Median Debt
$22,068
Earnings (4yr)
$61,604
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,647
Natl Median: $92,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,017
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Median Debt
$25,891
Earnings (4yr)
$85,817
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$32,338
Earnings (4yr)
$81,827
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,999
Natl Median: $60,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$14,817
Earnings (4yr)
$79,115
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,984
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Nutrition Sciences
MastCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,950
Earnings (4yr)
$69,174
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,514
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.