College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI 18,854 Undergrads 66.2% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$28,367
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,317
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,491
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$16,317
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$60,491
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$56,118
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate66.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age20.8
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients27.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS77.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
83.0%
SAT Avg
1,074
SAT Reading
25th: 480-75th: 600
SAT Math
25th: 460-75th: 590
ACT Composite
25th: 22-75th: 30

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
+$540k
+$73k
+$55k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$481k
+$14k
-$3k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$438k
-$29k
-$47k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
37
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-6%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-46%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return13%

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-49%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Anthropology
CertCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
CertCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,401
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
History
CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,747
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,561
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
CertCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$21,823
Earnings (4yr)
$80,153
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
$25,375
Earnings (4yr)
$70,655
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$42,796
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (4yr)
$59,476
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$45,090
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$52,176
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Biopsychology
BachCIP: 3010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,825
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,324
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
$21,025
Earnings (4yr)
$61,553
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$24,281
Earnings (4yr)
$73,241
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,043
Natl Median: $66,697
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,239
Earnings (4yr)
$70,611
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$31,241
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,938
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$57,771
Natl Median: $55,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,330
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Median Debt
$24,963
Earnings (4yr)
$103,253
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$325k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,537
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$305k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$341k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$24,904
Earnings (5yr)
$63,288
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,225
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$29,091
Earnings (4yr)
$100,456
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,036
Earnings (4yr)
$45,237
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
$23,914
Earnings (4yr)
$77,581
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,872
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Median Debt
$24,499
Earnings (4yr)
$39,082
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$71,348
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$39,307
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$180k
Median Debt
$19,324
Earnings (4yr)
$61,831
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$61,868
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,027
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$24,945
Earnings (4yr)
$62,482
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Median Debt
$25,017
Earnings (4yr)
$62,501
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,524
Earnings (4yr)
$47,218
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,413
Natl Median: $56,726
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$75,800
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Median Debt
$28,937
Earnings (4yr)
$81,420
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Median Debt
$24,295
Earnings (4yr)
$80,324
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Median Debt
$18,535
Earnings (4yr)
$58,802
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,498
Earnings (4yr)
$57,728
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
$27,660
Earnings (4yr)
$51,497
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$69,603
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$95,416
Natl Median: $88,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$265k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,530
Earnings (4yr)
$69,592
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,753
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Median Debt
$26,012
Earnings (4yr)
$90,565
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$29,075
Earnings (4yr)
$49,111
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$22,587
Earnings (4yr)
$49,113
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Median Debt
$24,179
Earnings (4yr)
$57,842
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$25,466
Earnings (5yr)
$44,259
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$48,896
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,460
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,776
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,599
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
$28,894
Earnings (4yr)
$80,398
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$43,011
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$79,188
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,291
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$43,552
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,715
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
$26,932
Earnings (4yr)
$52,520
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,216
Earnings (4yr)
$50,690
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,664
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Median Debt
$28,288
Earnings (4yr)
$49,814
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$53,175
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,229
Natl Median: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,612
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,661
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,346
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$20,032
Earnings (4yr)
$90,295
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
$89,091
Earnings (4yr)
$122,497
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$406k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,133
Earnings (4yr)
$108,615
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
+$286k
Median Debt
$30,124
Earnings (4yr)
$128,108
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$455k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$45,696
Earnings (4yr)
$58,806
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,663
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$59,065
Earnings (4yr)
$64,351
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,218
Earnings (4yr)
$57,952
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Median Debt
$43,345
Earnings (4yr)
$67,724
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$27,438
Earnings (4yr)
$60,263
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Median Debt
$27,226
Earnings (4yr)
$65,512
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,199
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,215
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$37,988
Earnings (4yr)
$82,978
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,125
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,309
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,751
Earnings (4yr)
$71,404
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$48,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,677
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,254
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,693
Earnings (4yr)
$59,369
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
$23,737
Earnings (4yr)
$64,816
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$34,324
Earnings (4yr)
$53,038
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Taxation
MastCIP: 5216
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,509
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,196
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
Gr-CertCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,756
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$106,121
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Median Debt
$101,032
Earnings (4yr)
$82,095
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
$75,692
Earnings (4yr)
$112,011
Natl Median: $133,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
$111,492
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

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.