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Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 31,812 Undergrads 82.4% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$23,683
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,997
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,675
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$10,997
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$61,675
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate82.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
25.4%
SAT Avg
1,323
SAT Reading
25th: 63064075th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 61062075th: 690
ACT Composite
25th: 272875th: 31
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
+$530k
+$133k
+$46k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$490k
+$94k
+$6k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$445k
+$48k
-$40k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
58
15%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-47%
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 Return15%
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-45%
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
Educational Administration and Supervision
CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Statistics
CertCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$18,600
Earnings (5yr)
$97,085
Lifetime Value Added
+$530k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,212
Earnings (5yr)
$89,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$225k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$21,045
Earnings (5yr)
$52,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,122
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$59,543
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
BachCIP: 4004
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$63,457
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$17,625
Earnings (5yr)
$68,379
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,528
Earnings (5yr)
$56,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,884
Earnings (5yr)
$67,950
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,034
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$23,311
Earnings (5yr)
$98,253
Lifetime Value Added
+$291k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,406
Earnings (5yr)
$63,894
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,835
Earnings (5yr)
$86,289
Lifetime Value Added
+$201k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$46,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,495
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$14,767
Earnings (5yr)
$62,179
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$19,182
Earnings (5yr)
$87,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$102,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,520
Earnings (5yr)
$55,220
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$322k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$52,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (5yr)
$58,255
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$32,238
Lifetime Value Added
-$228k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
$16,694
Earnings (5yr)
$47,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$73,771
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (5yr)
$96,486
Lifetime Value Added
+$278k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$18,592
Earnings (5yr)
$48,487
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$20,538
Earnings (5yr)
$58,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$16,740
Earnings (5yr)
$88,996
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$43,443
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$26,707
Earnings (5yr)
$47,482
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,830
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$16,169
Earnings (5yr)
$54,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,734
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$17,404
Earnings (5yr)
$53,037
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$19,160
Earnings (5yr)
$53,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$19,375
Earnings (2yr)
$71,643
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$95,930
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$60,401
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$44,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$17,318
Earnings (5yr)
$95,233
Lifetime Value Added
+$268k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$18,522
Earnings (5yr)
$99,280
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,040
Earnings (5yr)
$78,277
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$24,868
Earnings (5yr)
$63,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$92,658
Lifetime Value Added
+$249k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,660
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$17,318
Earnings (5yr)
$48,084
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,985
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,843
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,765
Earnings (5yr)
$76,659
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$18,613
Earnings (5yr)
$68,108
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,537
Earnings (5yr)
$69,965
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,392
Earnings (5yr)
$54,829
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$14,442
Earnings (5yr)
$57,845
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$65,909
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$85,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,250
Earnings (5yr)
$79,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,041
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,557
Earnings (5yr)
$46,053
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,852
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$18,783
Earnings (5yr)
$49,700
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$18,125
Earnings (5yr)
$53,954
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$22,350
Earnings (5yr)
$82,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$18,110
Earnings (5yr)
$49,914
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,195
Earnings (5yr)
$51,417
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Library Science and Administration
PB-CertCIP: 2501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,864
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,931
Earnings (5yr)
$108,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$489k
Apparel and Textiles
MastCIP: 1909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,292
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,051
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$103,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$451k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
$27,783
Earnings (5yr)
$75,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$39,990
Earnings (5yr)
$64,722
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$35,474
Earnings (2yr)
$83,177
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,153
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$19,184
Earnings (5yr)
$55,976
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,759
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$50,319
Earnings (5yr)
$45,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$192k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$29,090
Earnings (5yr)
$64,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$27,096
Earnings (5yr)
$104,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$454k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,341
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (5yr)
$61,094
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,253
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$59,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Industrial Engineering
MastCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
$36,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,259
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,547
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$104,192
Lifetime Value Added
+$510k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,029
Earnings (5yr)
$30,477
Lifetime Value Added
-$210k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,019
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,550
Earnings (5yr)
$76,187
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$32,458
Earnings (5yr)
$71,429
Lifetime Value Added
+$174k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,457
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$40,100
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$31,020
Earnings (5yr)
$71,309
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$51,779
Earnings (5yr)
$49,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,060
Earnings (5yr)
$57,133
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Graduate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,673
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Gr-CertCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$50,873
Earnings (5yr)
$51,196
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Doctoral Degrees
Business/Commerce, General
DocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$162,463
Lifetime Value Added
+$779k
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$276k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$68,893
Earnings (5yr)
$88,469
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$50,647
Earnings (5yr)
$69,086
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$52,754
Earnings (5yr)
$42,594
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Psychology, General
DocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,789
Lifetime Value Added
+$87k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$68,875
Earnings (5yr)
$118,251
Lifetime Value Added
+$389k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DocCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$77,682
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$66,707
Earnings (5yr)
$95,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$175,432
Earnings (5yr)
$196,699
Lifetime Value Added
+$954k
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.