College ROI

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Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 12,318 Undergrads 51.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$23,735
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,040
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,691
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,040
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$54,691
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$45,795
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate51.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS67.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
77.6%
SAT Avg
1,149
SAT Reading
25th: 44053575th: 530
SAT Math
25th: 44053075th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 192175th: 25

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
+$493k
+$26k
+$8k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$453k
-$14k
-$32k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$407k
-$60k
-$77k

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
54
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-79%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-90%
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 Return-62%

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-65%
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

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,849
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,642
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,776
Natl Median: $54,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Homeland Security
CertCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,995
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
CertCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,291
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k

Associate's Degrees

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other
AssocCIP: 0199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,835
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,565
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$37,319
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Median Debt
$21,464
Earnings (4yr)
$71,506
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,609
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
$20,387
Earnings (4yr)
$53,450
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$23,781
Earnings (4yr)
$66,943
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,992
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,755
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$39,050
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,494
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,327
Earnings (4yr)
$48,327
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$68,249
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,724
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$20,025
Earnings (4yr)
$52,216
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Median Debt
$17,613
Earnings (4yr)
$63,533
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,281
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$50,818
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Median Debt
$23,281
Earnings (4yr)
$68,774
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,592
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,120
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Median Debt
$20,238
Earnings (4yr)
$47,882
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,749
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
$20,509
Earnings (4yr)
$35,203
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (4yr)
$63,685
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,365
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$196k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,497
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,838
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$241k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,570
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$42,558
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$26,979
Earnings (4yr)
$67,096
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$39,921
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,862
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,433
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
$20,472
Earnings (4yr)
$43,352
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,406
Earnings (4yr)
$53,559
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,315
Earnings (4yr)
$37,673
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,877
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,786
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,985
Earnings (4yr)
$41,384
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$22,375
Earnings (4yr)
$51,086
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,272
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$30,849
Earnings (4yr)
$92,289
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Median Debt
$22,853
Earnings (4yr)
$41,368
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
$22,312
Earnings (4yr)
$83,920
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Median Debt
$15,950
Earnings (4yr)
$66,530
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,171
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$136k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $55,988
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$28,284
Earnings (4yr)
$46,705
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$276k
Median Debt
$28,375
Earnings (4yr)
$38,991
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,250
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,300
Earnings (4yr)
$51,386
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,931
Earnings (4yr)
$38,951
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,893
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
$17,151
Earnings (4yr)
$40,149
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,307
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Median Debt
$42,952
Earnings (4yr)
$54,123
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,417
Earnings (5yr)
$44,134
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,880
Earnings (4yr)
$49,776
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,616
Earnings (4yr)
$99,631
Natl Median: $95,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$217k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,803
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,323
Earnings (4yr)
$59,419
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$29,572
Earnings (4yr)
$65,669
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$54,949
Earnings (4yr)
$119,778
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$392k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,321
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,142
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$274k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$49,777
Earnings (4yr)
$54,288
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Median Debt
$31,394
Earnings (4yr)
$46,153
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$264k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,395
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k

Graduate Certificates

Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$130,429
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$575k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,774
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,399
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,609
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.