College ROI

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Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO 8,143 Undergrads 42.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,046
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,103
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,601
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,103
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$58,601
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Warning: This school's reported earnings inflated significantly (+28%) when the Dept of Education excluded non-graduates from the dataset. Take caution when comparing.
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$45,823
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate42.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
82.0%
SAT Avg
1,055
SAT Reading
25th: 48054575th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 45052975th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 182375th: 24

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$524k
+$58k
+$40k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$470k
+$3k
-$14k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$438k
-$29k
-$46k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
40
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-26%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-54%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-49%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,272
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,673
Earnings (4yr)
$56,747
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $33,223
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,162
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,359
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$383k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $30,572
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$5,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,482
Natl Median: $53,078
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,268
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,130
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,135
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,365
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (4yr)
$73,377
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,056
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,078
Natl Median: $42,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,041
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,472
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,971
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,311
Natl Median: $45,870
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,801
Natl Median: $39,605
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$78,611
Natl Median: $70,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,148
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,221
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,099
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,170
Earnings (4yr)
$43,775
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,773
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,832
Natl Median: $56,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,223
Natl Median: $79,637
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,704
Natl Median: $58,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,577
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Median Debt
$21,300
Earnings (4yr)
$74,932
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,737
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,297
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Median Debt
$21,302
Earnings (4yr)
$57,897
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,061
Earnings (4yr)
$54,717
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Median Debt
$22,080
Earnings (4yr)
$96,708
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,838
Natl Median: $93,843
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,708
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$34,036
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,745
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Median Debt
$19,846
Earnings (4yr)
$43,733
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$32,144
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$238k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,252
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$183k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$44,651
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,815
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,384
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,093
Earnings (4yr)
$54,321
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$81,319
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$17,162
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$365k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,441
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$42,701
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,348
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,644
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,586
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Education, General
Gr-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,139
Natl Median: $69,448
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.