College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC 5,493 Undergrads 48.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,098
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$7,360
After Aid
Median Earnings
$40,144
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$7,360
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$40,144
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate48.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients57.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time73.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS62.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
79.9%
SAT Avg
972
SAT Reading
25th: 44548075th: 520
SAT Math
25th: 41045575th: 525
ACT Composite
25th: 151775th: 20

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
+$356k
-$40k
-$128k
Median Cost$7k/yr
+$330k
-$67k
-$154k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$298k
-$98k
-$186k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$7k/yr
Never
-583%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-321%
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-443%

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-140%
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
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,490
Earnings (5yr)
$51,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$52k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,864
Earnings (5yr)
$48,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$24,248
Earnings (5yr)
$60,188
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,674
Earnings (5yr)
$42,029
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,774
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,203
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
$13,836
Earnings (5yr)
$81,600
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$29,890
Earnings (5yr)
$40,887
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,979
Earnings (5yr)
$42,034
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$17,599
Earnings (5yr)
$87,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,195
Earnings (5yr)
$46,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,234
Earnings (5yr)
$40,617
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$31,571
Earnings (5yr)
$85,687
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$36,809
Earnings (5yr)
$71,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$246k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$32,182
Earnings (5yr)
$54,388
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k

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.