Back to Colleges
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL 13,053 Undergrads 47.5% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$18,002
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,975
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,534
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,975
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$63,534
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate47.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients20.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time60.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
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
+$544k
+$148k
+$60k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$490k
+$94k
+$6k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$479k
+$83k
-$5k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
36
∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
59
11%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-8%
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 Return91%
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-17%
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
Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,428
Earnings (5yr)
$78,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k
Human Resources Management and Services
CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,864
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
CertCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$25,856
Earnings (5yr)
$80,703
Lifetime Value Added
+$371k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$15,879
Earnings (5yr)
$85,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Associate's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$16,640
Earnings (5yr)
$51,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$12,140
Earnings (5yr)
$62,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$128k
Fire Protection
AssocCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$290k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$16,266
Earnings (5yr)
$66,199
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$13,910
Earnings (5yr)
$84,183
Lifetime Value Added
+$321k
Bachelor's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$23,998
Earnings (5yr)
$63,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$16k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,491
Earnings (5yr)
$82,769
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,209
Earnings (5yr)
$61,453
Lifetime Value Added
-$577
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$20,895
Earnings (5yr)
$87,912
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$23,621
Earnings (5yr)
$60,480
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,862
Earnings (5yr)
$59,483
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$22,078
Earnings (5yr)
$74,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$23,425
Earnings (5yr)
$91,754
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
PB-CertCIP: 1507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,603
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$39,043
Earnings (5yr)
$75,617
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$39,585
Earnings (5yr)
$62,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$37,075
Earnings (5yr)
$83,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$272k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$40,144
Earnings (5yr)
$80,102
Lifetime Value Added
+$241k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$32,386
Earnings (5yr)
$94,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$361k
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.