College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA 4,365 Undergrads 75.3% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$33,766
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$23,015
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,140
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,015
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$62,140
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate75.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients15.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time98.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.7%

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

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
+$553k
+$86k
+$68k
Median Cost$23k/yr
+$470k
+$3k
-$14k
Full Cost$34k/yr
+$431k
-$36k
-$53k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
Median Cost$23k/yr
Never
-17%
Full Cost$34k/yr
Never
-44%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return14%

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-52%
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 (4yr)
$55,657
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,840
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$66,171
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,254
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,949
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$101,900
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$75,365
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,573
Earnings (4yr)
$55,379
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,458
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$88,842
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$191k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,564
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,864
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,248
Earnings (4yr)
$62,828
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,852
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$893
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,750
Earnings (4yr)
$65,241
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,600
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,912
Earnings (4yr)
$48,212
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,057
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,907
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k

Master's Degrees

Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
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
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
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. 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.