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Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 27,109 Undergrads 56.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,535
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,931
After Aid
Median Earnings
$47,384
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,931
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$47,384
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate56.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time77.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS60.8%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
62.3%
SAT Avg
1,149
SAT Reading
25th: 53059075th: 640
SAT Math
25th: 51058075th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 26
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
+$416k
+$20k
-$68k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$359k
-$38k
-$126k
Full Cost$27k/yr
+$321k
-$76k
-$164k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-219%
Full Cost$27k/yr
Never
-172%
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-204%
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-101%
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
Associate's Degrees
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,966
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$13,476
Earnings (5yr)
$44,862
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$81,885
Lifetime Value Added
+$299k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,327
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$24,041
Earnings (5yr)
$82,922
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,125
Earnings (5yr)
$35,931
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,171
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,109
Earnings (5yr)
$62,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$19,296
Earnings (5yr)
$74,505
Lifetime Value Added
+$95k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,276
Earnings (5yr)
$66,683
Lifetime Value Added
+$37k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,254
Earnings (5yr)
$53,345
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,082
Earnings (5yr)
$86,056
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$105,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$23,179
Earnings (5yr)
$52,559
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$24,943
Earnings (5yr)
$52,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$72,816
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$48,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$26,875
Earnings (2yr)
$14,442
Lifetime Value Added
-$393k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$21,974
Earnings (5yr)
$42,807
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (5yr)
$76,480
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$24,922
Earnings (5yr)
$42,329
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,338
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,375
Earnings (5yr)
$41,564
Lifetime Value Added
-$167k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,982
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,608
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,652
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$21,588
Earnings (5yr)
$37,613
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$23,029
Earnings (5yr)
$81,903
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$65,896
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$17,837
Earnings (5yr)
$62,151
Lifetime Value Added
+$1k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,279
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$24,527
Earnings (5yr)
$47,699
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
BachCIP: 2615
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$63,905
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$22,600
Earnings (5yr)
$60,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$21,859
Earnings (5yr)
$57,198
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$53,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,935
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$25,767
Earnings (5yr)
$57,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Real Estate
BachCIP: 5215
Median Debt
$28,220
Earnings (2yr)
$37,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,878
Earnings (5yr)
$81,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$25,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$302k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$22,950
Earnings (5yr)
$48,854
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,622
Earnings (5yr)
$48,917
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$51,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,032
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$97,244
Lifetime Value Added
+$386k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$32,250
Earnings (5yr)
$57,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$43k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$34,050
Earnings (5yr)
$73,621
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,138
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$50,417
Earnings (5yr)
$126,569
Lifetime Value Added
+$637k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$40,952
Earnings (5yr)
$57,594
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$29,242
Earnings (5yr)
$63,653
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$129,650
Lifetime Value Added
+$663k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$35,049
Earnings (2yr)
$59,169
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$40,940
Earnings (5yr)
$84,148
Lifetime Value Added
+$274k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$108,935
Lifetime Value Added
+$487k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$123,490
Lifetime Value Added
+$611k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$30,650
Earnings (5yr)
$57,002
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
$40,402
Earnings (5yr)
$60,538
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Hospitality Administration/Management
MastCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,064
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
International Business
MastCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,708
Lifetime Value Added
+$347k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
MastCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$102,701
Lifetime Value Added
+$433k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$92,565
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
MastCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,586
Lifetime Value Added
+$42k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$39,375
Earnings (5yr)
$48,148
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$34,250
Earnings (5yr)
$69,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$37,258
Earnings (5yr)
$76,059
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Real Estate
MastCIP: 5215
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$141,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$761k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$32,500
Earnings (5yr)
$115,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$545k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$48,748
Earnings (5yr)
$52,081
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$58,165
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,636
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$46,125
Earnings (5yr)
$57,169
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
$39,235
Earnings (5yr)
$111,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$511k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,605
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$31,250
Earnings (5yr)
$59,433
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Urban Studies/Affairs
MastCIP: 4512
Median Debt
$36,073
Earnings (5yr)
$88,403
Lifetime Value Added
+$311k
Graduate Certificates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,129
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5219
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,733
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Doctoral Degrees
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,273
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Communication and Media Studies
DocCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$129,220
Lifetime Value Added
+$451k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$78,016
Earnings (5yr)
$56,538
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$79,533
Earnings (5yr)
$80,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DocCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$88,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$72,563
Earnings (5yr)
$105,625
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
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.