College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 12,318 Undergrads 50.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$25,132
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,925
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,884
5yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,925
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$55,884
Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$50,885
Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate50.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)22.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients48.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
77.6%
SAT Avg
1,149
SAT Reading
25th: 44048075th: 530
SAT Math
25th: 44049075th: 550
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 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)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$496k
+$26k
+$9k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$453k
-$17k
-$34k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$405k
-$65k
-$81k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
53
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-78%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-90%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.
  • 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-63%

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-67%

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
$22,916
Earnings (4yr)
$51,849
Natl Median: $57,702
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,726
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,695
Natl Median: $54,396
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
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)
$40,919
Natl Median: $43,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k

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 (5yr)
$60,119
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$66,418
Natl Median: $73,593
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,877
Earnings (5yr)
$50,927
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
$20,587
Earnings (4yr)
$71,506
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,191
Earnings (4yr)
$59,609
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,450
Natl Median: $53,588
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$20,992
Earnings (4yr)
$66,943
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Median Debt
$20,690
Earnings (4yr)
$77,992
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$36,755
Natl Median: $45,044
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$23,649
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$294k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,327
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Median Debt
$23,346
Earnings (4yr)
$68,249
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,724
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,035
Earnings (4yr)
$52,216
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,533
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$45,957
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,818
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,774
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,426
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
$18,162
Earnings (4yr)
$88,120
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$47,882
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,749
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Median Debt
$20,227
Earnings (4yr)
$35,203
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$201k
Median Debt
$18,303
Earnings (4yr)
$63,685
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$35,365
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$199k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$26,769
Earnings (4yr)
$80,497
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$169k
Median Debt
$19,856
Earnings (4yr)
$59,838
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
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
-$245k
Median Debt
$24,389
Earnings (4yr)
$55,570
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$22,874
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$301k
Homeland Security
BachCIP: 4303
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,096
Natl Median: $70,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Median Debt
$27,095
Earnings (4yr)
$39,921
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,010
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,741
Earnings (5yr)
$50,615
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$18,965
Earnings (4yr)
$43,352
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$18,718
Earnings (4yr)
$53,559
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$37,673
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,877
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
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
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,786
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,899
Earnings (4yr)
$41,384
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,086
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,272
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Median Debt
$24,628
Earnings (4yr)
$92,289
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Median Debt
$19,850
Earnings (4yr)
$41,368
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Median Debt
$20,585
Earnings (4yr)
$83,920
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Median Debt
$18,337
Earnings (4yr)
$66,530
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Natl Median: $55,988
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,705
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$38,991
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,044
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$51,386
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$38,951
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$41,893
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,149
Natl Median: $45,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k

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: $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
$24,520
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
$27,766
Earnings (4yr)
$51,307
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Median Debt
$43,110
Earnings (4yr)
$54,123
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$50,453
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$236k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,776
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,456
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
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
$40,849
Earnings (4yr)
$99,631
Natl Median: $95,461
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
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
$38,118
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,778
Earnings (4yr)
$59,419
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,669
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
$57,898
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
$30,722
Earnings (4yr)
$45,142
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$278k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,500
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
$49,367
Earnings (4yr)
$54,288
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Median Debt
$40,874
Earnings (4yr)
$46,153
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,395
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k

Graduate Certificates

Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$110,878
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$458k
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
$47,764
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,507
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
-$193k

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.