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East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN 9,807 Undergrads 57.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,947
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,794
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,859
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,794
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$44,859
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate57.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS66.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.1%
SAT Avg
1,114
SAT Reading
25th: 490-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 460-75th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 26
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
+$395k
-$1k
-$89k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$339k
-$58k
-$146k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$302k
-$94k
-$182k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-257%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-195%
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 Return-243%
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-110%
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
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$58,006
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,625
Earnings (5yr)
$50,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,918
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,871
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,274
Earnings (5yr)
$41,501
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,370
Earnings (5yr)
$93,295
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Lifetime Value Added
-$222k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,958
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$17,022
Earnings (5yr)
$33,670
Lifetime Value Added
-$233k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$17,739
Earnings (5yr)
$64,300
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$26,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$37,167
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,928
Earnings (5yr)
$46,637
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$53,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$42,492
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$40,594
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Human Services, General
BachCIP: 4400
Median Debt
$20,875
Earnings (5yr)
$40,094
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$41,482
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$134k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,374
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$24,436
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$34,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,387
Earnings (5yr)
$37,942
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$22,299
Earnings (5yr)
$53,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,558
Earnings (5yr)
$74,304
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,050
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$17,495
Earnings (5yr)
$33,474
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$146k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$285k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,671
Lifetime Value Added
+$193k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,028
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,276
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,523
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$27,245
Earnings (5yr)
$47,064
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$35,553
Earnings (5yr)
$81,658
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$44,053
Earnings (5yr)
$107,519
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$44,220
Earnings (5yr)
$52,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$34,650
Earnings (5yr)
$42,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,600
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Doctoral Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
DocCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$61,968
Earnings (5yr)
$85,265
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$59,445
Earnings (5yr)
$119,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$87,258
Earnings (5yr)
$83,355
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Professional Degrees
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$194,983
Earnings (5yr)
$196,850
Lifetime Value Added
+$938k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$237,447
Earnings (5yr)
$137,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
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.