College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA 4,402 Undergrads 77.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$32,242
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,197
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,509
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,197
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$60,509
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate77.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients14.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.0%
SAT Avg
1,207
SAT Reading
25th: 56062075th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 54059575th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 232775th: 29

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
+$521k
+$124k
+$36k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$441k
+$45k
-$43k
Full Cost$32k/yr
+$405k
+$8k
-$80k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-54%
Full Cost$32k/yr
Never
-69%
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-29%

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-63%
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
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,142
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$77,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$61,514
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$58,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (5yr)
$94,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$219k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$71,646
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,573
Earnings (5yr)
$53,811
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,200
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$88,413
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,118
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,864
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,248
Earnings (5yr)
$52,776
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (5yr)
$62,548
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,834
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,418
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k

Master's Degrees

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,210
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k

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.