College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC 638 Undergrads 33.2% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$37,837
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,189
After Aid
Median Earnings
$38,412
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,189
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$38,412
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate33.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients64.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS50.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
72.4%
SAT Avg
970
SAT Reading
25th: 48547575th: 585
SAT Math
25th: 39550375th: 560
ACT Composite
25th: -1875th: -

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
+$342k
-$54k
-$142k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$284k
-$113k
-$201k
Full Cost$38k/yr
+$206k
-$191k
-$279k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-344%
Full Cost$38k/yr
Never
-205%
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-264%

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-121%
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

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$24,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,712
Earnings (5yr)
$45,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,931
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$37,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,517
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$204k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,843
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
BachCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$24,387
Earnings (5yr)
$42,091
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,363
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k

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.