College ROI

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Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA 4,365 Undergrads 75.7% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$34,411
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$22,310
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,605
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$22,310
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$64,605
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$65,183
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate75.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients18.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
86.0%
SAT Avg
1,180
SAT Reading
25th: 55062075th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 51059575th: 630
ACT Composite
25th: 252775th: 30

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
+$565k
+$95k
+$79k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$485k
+$15k
-$1k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$442k
-$28k
-$45k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-2%
Full Cost$34k/yr
Never
-36%
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 Return26%

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-51%

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 →

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,657
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,840
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$19,849
Earnings (4yr)
$66,171
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,254
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$124,262
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$446k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$23,989
Earnings (4yr)
$101,900
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$295k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$75,365
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,379
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,458
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,842
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,564
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$23,249
Earnings (4yr)
$62,828
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,852
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,220
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,241
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$53,600
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,212
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (4yr)
$55,057
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$42,907
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$56,921
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k

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.