College ROI

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Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA 7,833 Undergrads 60.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$32,722
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,201
After Aid
Median Earnings
$65,123
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,201
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$65,123
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$65,578
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate60.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.4
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients38.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.2%

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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$570k
+$99k
+$83k
Median Cost$21k/yr
+$493k
+$23k
+$7k
Full Cost$33k/yr
+$452k
-$18k
-$35k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$21k/yr
59
9%
Full Cost$33k/yr
Never
-29%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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 Return39%

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-46%

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 →

Certificates

Median Debt
$20,339
Earnings (4yr)
$60,506
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
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Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,442
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
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Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$22,537
Earnings (4yr)
$74,997
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,263
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
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Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,697
Earnings (4yr)
$44,089
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,815
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
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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
$18,958
Earnings (4yr)
$56,154
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
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Median Debt
$17,903
Earnings (4yr)
$73,036
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,905
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
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Median Debt
$18,774
Earnings (4yr)
$56,862
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
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Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,838
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
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Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$95,368
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,651
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
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Median Debt
$18,191
Earnings (4yr)
$60,761
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
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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
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$33,800
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,799
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
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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 (2yr)
$72,482
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,557
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,583
Earnings (4yr)
$43,101
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
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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
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,152
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
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Median Debt
$18,925
Earnings (4yr)
$40,251
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,081
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,987
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
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History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,914
Earnings (4yr)
$45,990
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
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Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$54,858
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
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Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,318
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
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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
-$141k
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Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
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Median Debt
$22,696
Earnings (4yr)
$84,871
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,899
Earnings (4yr)
$51,008
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,776
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
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Nutrition Sciences
BachCIP: 3019
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,735
Natl Median: $60,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,480
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
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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 (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
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Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,361
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
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Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,654
Earnings (4yr)
$54,530
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
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Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$19,926
Earnings (4yr)
$62,435
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,538
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
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Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$97,869
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,318
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
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Median Debt
$20,563
Earnings (4yr)
$41,971
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,727
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,062
Earnings (4yr)
$58,680
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
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Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$15,184
Earnings (4yr)
$63,608
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
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Median Debt
$20,143
Earnings (5yr)
$63,669
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
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Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$16,084
Earnings (4yr)
$47,979
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
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Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,659
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
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Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,604
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
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Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,151
Natl Median: $92,202
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
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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
-$17k
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Median Debt
$26,405
Earnings (4yr)
$85,817
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
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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
$29,258
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,827
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
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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
-$8k
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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
$29,274
Earnings (4yr)
$79,115
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
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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
-$124k
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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
$30,886
Earnings (4yr)
$69,174
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
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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.