College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Georgia Southwestern State University

Americus, GA 2,291 Undergrads 44.0% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$19,234
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,052
After Aid
Median Earnings
$48,757
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$12,052
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$48,757
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate44.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time74.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
77.2%
SAT Avg
998
SAT Reading
25th: 47056075th: 590
SAT Math
25th: 43052075th: 540
ACT Composite
25th: 162175th: 21

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
+$427k
+$31k
-$57k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$384k
-$13k
-$101k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$358k
-$38k
-$126k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-232%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-183%
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-216%

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-96%
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
$16,499
Earnings (5yr)
$62,518
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,625
Earnings (5yr)
$59,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$326k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$17,875
Earnings (5yr)
$38,336
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$38,431
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$85,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,241
Earnings (5yr)
$45,956
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,280
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$18,107
Earnings (2yr)
$52,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$23,532
Earnings (5yr)
$60,163
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k

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.