College ROI

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Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN 6,188 Undergrads 45.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$24,535
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,873
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,688
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,873
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$57,688
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$48,387
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate45.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age22.3
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients40.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.9%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
80.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$517k
+$50k
+$33k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$478k
+$11k
-$6k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$429k
-$38k
-$56k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
42
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-17%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-63%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-15%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-54%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,869
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,862
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
+$343k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Gerontology
CertCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,636
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,294
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Insurance
CertCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,539
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$19,575
Earnings (4yr)
$61,660
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$23,480
Earnings (4yr)
$71,254
Natl Median: $85,825
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,541
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$444
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,389
Earnings (4yr)
$45,035
Natl Median: $57,640
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,074
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,764
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Median Debt
$21,854
Earnings (4yr)
$67,478
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
$22,265
Earnings (4yr)
$57,171
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$73,623
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,549
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,606
Earnings (4yr)
$48,185
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$55,749
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Median Debt
$22,070
Earnings (4yr)
$61,424
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,043
Natl Median: $83,742
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$94,902
Natl Median: $95,124
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,991
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,582
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$225k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,336
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,304
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,619
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,493
Earnings (4yr)
$40,676
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,937
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Median Debt
$26,959
Earnings (4yr)
$38,331
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$45,529
Natl Median: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,052
Natl Median: $50,580
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,519
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Median Debt
$26,119
Earnings (4yr)
$40,860
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,452
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,915
Natl Median: $80,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$67,033
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,693
Natl Median: $60,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Median Debt
$22,558
Earnings (4yr)
$50,968
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,741
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$66,087
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$60k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,988
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Median Debt
$23,378
Earnings (4yr)
$79,527
Natl Median: $82,073
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,288
Natl Median: $52,119
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$49,711
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
$24,622
Earnings (4yr)
$49,623
Natl Median: $50,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,591
Earnings (4yr)
$59,060
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,193
Earnings (4yr)
$42,822
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,303
Natl Median: $86,525
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
$24,582
Earnings (4yr)
$81,988
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$23,781
Earnings (4yr)
$46,548
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,283
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$46,556
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,482
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,610
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

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

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$77,582
Earnings (4yr)
$123,016
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$421k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,294
Earnings (4yr)
$95,438
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$180k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,785
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,500
Earnings (4yr)
$62,827
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,321
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,110
Earnings (4yr)
$77,266
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,068
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,450
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$36,342
Earnings (4yr)
$73,874
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,452
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,349
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$44,211
Earnings (4yr)
$122,651
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$418k
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,726
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,813
Earnings (4yr)
$58,291
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,314
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$176k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,929
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k

Graduate Certificates

Public Administration
Gr-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,022
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
$25,420
Earnings (4yr)
$73,135
Natl Median: $101,721
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,997
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,966
Earnings (4yr)
$115,003
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$99,526
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Median Debt
$78,714
Earnings (4yr)
$80,168
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,514
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$106,550
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k

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.