College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH 8,969 Undergrads 57.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$27,436
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,754
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,668
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$13,754
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$60,668
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,979
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate57.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)23.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients44.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
91.3%
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
+$534k
+$64k
+$48k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$485k
+$15k
-$2k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$436k
-$35k
-$51k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-3%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-52%
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 Return2%

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-53%

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

Real Estate
CertCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,762
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$73,476
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,938
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$189k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,972
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$175k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,486
Earnings (4yr)
$53,898
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 4101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Natl Median: $63,102
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,930
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,703
Earnings (4yr)
$81,185
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,541
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$23,875
Earnings (4yr)
$73,575
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$55,038
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,192
Earnings (4yr)
$48,688
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,747
Earnings (4yr)
$51,540
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,337
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,337
Earnings (4yr)
$88,595
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$224k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,938
Earnings (4yr)
$100,385
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$314k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$23,240
Earnings (4yr)
$52,713
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (4yr)
$46,635
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,093
Earnings (4yr)
$36,174
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,852
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,308
Natl Median: $47,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$26,350
Earnings (4yr)
$87,713
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,732
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$41,767
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$37,745
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$73,669
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,603
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,519
Natl Median: $64,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,214
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,151
Earnings (4yr)
$42,859
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,076
Earnings (4yr)
$65,203
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$23,984
Earnings (4yr)
$72,661
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,241
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$45,045
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,576
Earnings (4yr)
$67,614
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$61,829
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,688
Earnings (4yr)
$58,346
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$22,857
Earnings (5yr)
$90,218
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$23,891
Earnings (4yr)
$85,184
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$198k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$29,842
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$18,040
Earnings (4yr)
$53,245
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,268
Earnings (4yr)
$49,647
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$46,090
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,985
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$20,156
Earnings (4yr)
$55,174
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,201
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,439
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$48,571
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,520
Earnings (4yr)
$57,211
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,424
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,254
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$53,582
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Try this program with your own numbers →

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,792
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,556
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$36,256
Earnings (4yr)
$101,635
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,518
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,780
Natl Median: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$362k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$50,002
Earnings (4yr)
$63,455
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,428
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,719
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$24,461
Earnings (4yr)
$70,853
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,285
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$349k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,629
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$123,781
Natl Median: $69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$402k
Try this program with your own numbers →
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,750
Earnings (5yr)
$76,877
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$72
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,050
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,560
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$57,762
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
MastCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,167
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,439
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$108,840
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$293k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,255
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$39,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,916
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$44,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,537
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,641
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$52,787
Earnings (4yr)
$54,706
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,198
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,143
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,446
Natl Median: $87,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,630
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,817
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$77,500
Earnings (4yr)
$91,229
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Try this program with your own numbers →
Median Debt
$73,942
Earnings (4yr)
$74,579
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Try this program with your own numbers →

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.