College ROI

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Colorado State University Global

Denver, CO 6,563 Undergrads 44.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$24,046
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,732
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,769
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,732
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,769
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$82,047
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate44.5%
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 age (2015-17)32.7
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients33.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time32.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS85.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
98.4%
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
+$696k
+$226k
+$209k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$632k
+$162k
+$145k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$609k
+$139k
+$123k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
33
228%
Full Cost$24k/yr
36
142%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ 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

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 Return359%

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 Return51%

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

Median Debt
$7,125
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$7,125
Earnings (4yr)
$69,786
Natl Median: $50,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,907
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,757
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (4yr)
$75,415
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$83,415
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,743
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,204
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
$26,775
Earnings (4yr)
$61,075
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Median Debt
$19,421
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,140
Earnings (4yr)
$74,350
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,403
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Median Debt
$28,625
Earnings (4yr)
$52,742
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,518
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$263k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,304
Earnings (4yr)
$71,199
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Median Debt
$18,472
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,648
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,311
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$32,014
Earnings (4yr)
$94,130
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Median Debt
$40,366
Earnings (4yr)
$102,672
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$232k
Median Debt
$39,413
Earnings (4yr)
$102,553
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
$51,580
Earnings (4yr)
$80,306
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Median Debt
$35,984
Earnings (4yr)
$61,121
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
$42,724
Earnings (4yr)
$102,553
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Median Debt
$42,914
Earnings (4yr)
$94,688
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Median Debt
$38,445
Earnings (4yr)
$90,296
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,506
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Median Debt
$40,801
Earnings (4yr)
$113,193
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Median Debt
$53,193
Earnings (4yr)
$102,355
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,520
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
$19,077
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,078
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,258
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
Gr-CertCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,837
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.