College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Colorado State University Global

Denver, CO 6,202 Undergrads 47.3% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$18,384
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,099
After Aid
Median Earnings
$76,813
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$14,099
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$76,813
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate47.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time29.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.9%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -54575th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -1775th: -

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
+$643k
+$247k
+$159k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$592k
+$196k
+$108k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$577k
+$181k
+$93k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
Median Cost$14k/yr
35
213%
Full Cost$18k/yr
37
140%
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 Return363%

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 Return61%
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

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,491
Earnings (5yr)
$74,281
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,495
Earnings (5yr)
$88,068
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,187
Earnings (5yr)
$76,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$22,395
Earnings (5yr)
$98,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,136
Earnings (5yr)
$66,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$29,692
Earnings (5yr)
$70,587
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,083
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$29,051
Earnings (5yr)
$44,167
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,129
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$23,854
Earnings (5yr)
$109,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$363k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,214
Earnings (5yr)
$71,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,182
Lifetime Value Added
+$137k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$26,899
Earnings (5yr)
$53,776
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$46,548
Earnings (5yr)
$107,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$479k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$47,837
Earnings (5yr)
$66,804
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$37,938
Earnings (5yr)
$57,143
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$42,450
Earnings (5yr)
$91,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$40,909
Earnings (5yr)
$88,549
Lifetime Value Added
+$315k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$43,430
Earnings (5yr)
$95,392
Lifetime Value Added
+$374k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$39,204
Earnings (5yr)
$109,856
Lifetime Value Added
+$498k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$50,707
Earnings (5yr)
$108,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$483k

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.