College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Kent State University at Salem

Salem, OH 1,127 Undergrads 25.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$15,357
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,593
After Aid
Median Earnings
$45,388
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,593
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$45,388
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate25.8%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients43.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time24.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.0%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

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
+$452k
+$63k
-$32k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$431k
+$42k
-$54k
Full Cost$15k/yr
+$424k
+$35k
-$60k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-251%
Full Cost$15k/yr
Never
-214%
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-276%

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-98%
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

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (5yr)
$59,942
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$17,942
Earnings (5yr)
$45,670
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Computer Programming
AssocCIP: 1102
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$40,794
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$19,501
Earnings (5yr)
$39,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Education, Other
AssocCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,732
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,977
Earnings (5yr)
$43,610
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$14,884
Earnings (5yr)
$28,922
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k

Bachelor's Degrees

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,909
Earnings (5yr)
$59,986
Lifetime Value Added
+$22
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,898
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,553
Earnings (5yr)
$47,159
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,870
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,733
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,904
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,845
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,115
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k

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.